mi 


THE   KING  OF  THE  JEWS 


THE 


KING  OF  THE  JEWS 


9  ^acreb  Brama 


From  the  Russian 
of 

"K.  P." 

(THE  GRAND  DUKE  CONSTANTINE) 


BY 


VICTOR   E.    MARSDEN,   M.A. 


'1  &  ^^ 


FUNK  &  WAGNALLS  COMPANY 

NEW  YORK  and  LONDON 
1914 


Copyright,  1914 

by 

Cassell  &  Company,  Limited 


TO 

CHARLES  HASTIE 

OF  MOSCOW 

IN  TOKEN  OF  A  LIFELONG   FRIENDSHIP 

THIS  VERSION  IS  INSCRIBED 

BY 

THE  TRANSLATOR 


DRAMATIS  PERSON2E 

Pontius  Pilate,  Procurator  of  Judcea. 

Procula,  his  Wife. 

Joseph  of  Arimathaa,    )    ^  ^ 

TVT  )■  Members  of  the  Sanhedrin. 

NiCODEMUS,  j  ■' 

Joanna,  Wife  of  Herod's  Master  of  the  household. 

Prefect  of  the  Cohort. 

First  Trihune  of  the  Legion. 

Second  Tribune  of  the  Legion. 

The  Centurion. 

A  Sadducee. 

First  Pharisee. 

Second  Pharisee. 

Third  Pharisee. 

Fourth  Pharisee. 

Simon,  the  Cyrenian,  Gardener  to  Joseph. 

Alexander,  a  Slave  of  Procida,    )    _  ^  _. 

_  „  \   Sons  of  Stmon. 

RuFUS,  a  Coutryman,  ) 

Leah,  a  Jewess,  a  Slave  of  Procula. 

Bartimaeus,  a  Countryman  from  the  neighbourhood  of 

Jericho. 
First,    Second,    and    Third    Women    bearing    precious 

ointments. 


Vlll 


DRAMATIS  PERSONiE 


of  the  Crowd. 


Women. 


First 
Second 
Third 
Fourth 
Fifth 
First 
Second 

First  and  Second  Flower-girls. 
Servant  to  Joseph. 
Voice  of  a  Herald. 
Voice  of  a  Levite. 

Syrian  Slaves,  Dancers,  of  both  sexes,  Soldiers,  Slaves, 
Crowd. 


The  action  takes  place  at  Jerusalem.  It  occupies  one 
week,  from  the  entry  into  Jerusalem  of  Christ  the  Sav- 
iour to  the  day  of  His  resurrection. 

Between  the  First  and  Second  Acts  four  days  elapse; 
between  the  Third  and  Fourth  Acts  a  little  over  twenty- 
four  hours. 


THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS 

B  Sacred  Drama 

ACT  THE  FIRST 

By  the  city  wall,  which  stretches,  with  its  towers,  far 
into  the  distance  L.  There  is  a  gateway  in  the  wall 
in  the  foreground,  but  only  the  upper  part  of  it  is 
visible,  the  rest  disappearing  below  the  level  of  the 
stage.  The  road  leading  to  it  lies  below  the  level  of 
the  stage,  and  is  for  some  distance  invisible,  but,  rising 
gradually,  reaches  the  stage  level  a  little  R.  of  the 
middle  of  the  stage.  Here  the  road  takes  a  sharp  turn 
to  the  left,  and,  continuing  to  ascend,  leads  to  a  narrow 
passage  through  the  building  in  the  background  in 
the  depth  of  the  stage,  a  little  R.  of  the  middle  of  the 
stage.  From  this  point  the  road  makes  a  sharp  turn 
to  the  left,  and  runs  high  up  at  the  back  of  the  stage, 
parallel  with  the  footlights,  up  to  the  city  wall,  pass- 
ing several  shops  filled  with  a  variety  of  goods  for 
sale.     These  shops  close  in  the  scene  at  the  back  L. ; 


2  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

the  flat  roof  over  them  is,  at  the  rising  of  the  curtain, 
crowded  with  people.  The  road,  in  its  windings,  forms 
an  open  space,  in  the  midst  of  which  grows  an  ancient, 
wide-branching  oUve  tree,  its  trunk  of  sufficient  girth 
to  afford  a  hiding  place  for  two  men;  among  its  mighty 
roots  is  a  boulder  sunk  in  the  ground  and  serving  for 
a  seat.  From  this  open  place  L.,  abutting  on  the 
buildings  along  the  city  wall,  a  narrow  stair  with  a 
little  parapet  of  stone  leads  upwards,  affording  a  short 
cut  from  the  open  space  to  the  roadway  running  above 
it  along  the  back  of  the  stage.  The  open  space  is 
closed  R.  by  a  well,  which  juts  out  upon  the  slope  of 
the  road.  In  the  foreground  R.,  beside  the  well,  is 
the  guard-house  for  the  Centurion  and  soldiers  of  the 
guard.  A  few  steps  lead  from  the  road  up  to  the 
guard-house,  the  door  of  which,  being  aslant,  is  not 
visible.  This  guard-house  building  extends  to  the 
back  of  the  stage,  where  it  joins  the  building  through 
which  runs  the  narrow  passage  already  mentioned.  On 
the  open  space  adjoining  these  buildings  are  a  few 
ancient,  weather-beaten,  dusty  cypress  trees.  In  the 
foreground  R.,  between  the  roadway  and  the  steps 
leading  to  the  guard-house,  is  a  corner  at  stage  level, 
in  which  is  a  stone  bench  against  the  parapet  of  the 
steps. 


Sc.  I]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  3 

The  time  is  evening  twilight. 

Before  the  curtain  rises  are  heard  the  joyous  shouts 
of  a  great  muUitude. 


Scene  I 

The  stage  is  filled  zvitli  people,  many  hearing  palm 
and  olive  branches  and  flowers  in  their  hands. 
The  road  slopes  away  to  a  narrozv  passage  through 
the  building  in  the  background.  Flozvers  and 
green  branches  are  strewn  about  it,  and  it  is 
covered  zvith  garments  spread  out.  Beyond  this 
passage  from  the  town  are  heard  shouts  dying 
away  gradually.  A  great  press  of  people  at  the 
passage.  Amid  the  general  din  of  cheers  and 
shouts  of  joy  a  few  single  voices  make  themselves 
heard. 

[Voices  from  the  crowd. '\ 

First  Voice. 
Blessed  be  the  son  of  David's  House. 


Second  Voice. 

First  Voice. 

Hosanna.     Israel's  King  that  cometh  in 
The  name  of  the  Lord. 


Hosanna. 


4  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

Second  Voice. 

Hosanna  in  the  Highest. 

First  Voice. 
All  blessings  on  our  King. 

Second  Voice. 

In  Heaven  peace 
And  glory  in  the  Highest. 

First  Voice. 

Blessings  be 
Upon  the  Kingdom  coming  in  God's  name 
To  David's  House,  the  father  of  our  faith. 

Third  Voice. 
Who  is  it? 

Fourth  Voice  lscornfully'\. 
Him  of  Galilee. 

Fifth  Voice  [with  conviction']. 

The  Prophet. 

First  Voice. 
Jesus,  the  Prophet  out  of  Nazareth. 

First  Woman. 
See,  here's  the  hoof -print  of  the  ass  He  rode. 


Sc.  I]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS 

Second  Woman. 
I  laid  my  kerchief  in  the  way:  the  ass 
And  Httle  foal  beside  her  stepped  on  it. 

First  Woman. 
Give  me  the  kerchief,  let  me  .  .  . 

Second  Woman. 


It  sacred  to  the  Prophet's  memory. 


No,  I'll  keep 
\_Noise  abates. 


Bartimaeus. 
*  [No  use,  too  big  a  croAvd,  and  I  am  late : 
I'll  wait  Him  here.     When  evening  twilight  comes 
And  the  first  stars  begin  to  shine  in  Heaven 
He'll  pass  this  way  to  Bethany  again ; 
Then  I  with  His  disciples  can  join  in, 
And  shall  have  leave  to  gaze  my  fill  on  Him. 
[The  Man  of  God,  that  gave  me  back  my  sight. 

[^Girls  pass  by,  flower-sellers,  with 
empty  baskets. 

First  Girl. 
It's  empty-handed  I  am  going  home : 
The  crowd  just  snatched  my  flowers  every  one 
To  strew  the  Prophet's  way  before  His  feet. 

Second  Girl. 
Nay,  grieve  not,  sis,  nor  think  that  one  whole  day 
Of  time  and  toil  we've  wasted  all  for  naught. 
I  strewed  with  willing  hands  upon  His  path 

*  The  passages  in  brackets  [ — ]  are  omitted  in  representation 
on  the  stage. 


6  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

My  store  of  fragrant  wild  flowers,  dewy- fresh, 

And  sure  thy  Hlies,  roses,  will  the  Lord 

Accept  for  a  sweet-smelling  sacrifice 

As  offered  to  His  Prophet  by  thy  hand. 

The  lilies  of  the  field  He  loves :  I  mind 

He  says  of  them  that  even  Solomon 

In  all  the  glory  of  his  royal  state 

Was  never  half  so  fine  arrayed  with  gold 

And  purple  as  the  simplest  is  of  these.] 

The  Sadducee. 

A  common  cheat,  no  more.    Fools  to  believe 
A  beggar  will  cast  off  the  yoke  of  Rome 
And  in  the  Holy  City  come  to  reign. 
Sitting  in  regal  state  on  David's  throne. 

Bartimaeus. 

But  David's  self  was  none  so  nobly  born, 
To-day  a  shepherd,  on  the  morrow  King. 

First  Pharisee. 

Poor  fool :  this  vagrom  man  of  Galilee 
Compare  to  David  throned  in  majesty! 

Second  Voice  from  the  Crowd. 
He  casteth  devils  out  with  just  one  word. 

Fifth  Voice. 
And  lepers  are  made  whole  and  clean  by  Him  .  .  . 

First  Voice. 
The  Master  even  raises  from  the  dead  .  .  . 


Sc.  I]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS 

The  Sadducee. 
All  old  wives'  tales.    In  this  our  cultured  age 
'Tis  only  fools  believe  in  miracles. 

First  Woman. 

But  how  refuse  belief  when  'fore  all  men 

He  hath  made  one  that  was  born  blind,  to  see  ? 

Second  Woman. 
At  Nain  He  brought  a  young  man  back  to  life: 
The  youth  was  dead — his  mother's  only  son. 

First  Voice  From  the  Crowd. 

And  then  in  Galilee,  'twas  in  some  town, 
But  which  it  was  just  slips  my  memory  now, 
Jairus  was  ruler  of  the  synagogue — 
His  daughter  lay  at  point  of  death:    He  made 
Her  whole  ... 

Second  Voice. 
At  Bethany  but  yestereve 
I  saw  a  dead  man  rise  at  Jesus'  word. 

First  Woman. 

[What  need  of  these?    Ask  Bartimaeus  here: 

Come  tell  us  what  He  did  at  Jericho. 

How  thou  wast  blind  and  didst  receive  thy  sight 

Bartimaeus. 

It  soon  will  be  some  eight  years  now  ago 
That  on  the  threshing-floor  my  eyes  got  filled 


8  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

With  dust,  and  long  they  ached,  and  I  could  see 

Ay  less  and  less,  and  at  the  last  went  blind. 

Remained  naught  for  me  but  with  outstretched  hand 

To  beg  my  bread  upon  the  public  way : 

So,  once,  'twas  by  the  gates  of  Jericho, 

I  sat  and  from  the  town  could  hear  a  noise 

As  if  the  waves  of  some  storm-driven  sea 

Beat  in  a  roar  upon  a  rock-bound  shore. 

Near  and  more  near  a!  crowd  came  on  with  cries, 

And  'mid  the  din  of  cheers  pealed  out  one  name, 

"  Jesus  of  Nazareth,"  to  heart  and  ear. 

Then  knew  I  that  before  my  sightless  eyes 

Was  passing  He,  the  Just  One  of  Galilee, 

Whom  men  in  our  parts  call  Messiah,  Christ, 

The  Healer  of  the  impotent  and  lame. 

Friend  of  the  poor  and  all  who  are  oppressed. 

Then  I  began  to  cry  to  Him  with  tears : 

"  Have  mercy  on  me,  Jesus,  Son  of  David." 

They  tried  in  vain  to  make  me  hold  my  peace; 

I  still  cried  but  the  more.    Then  others  said : 

"  He's  stopped,  and  stands  before  thee ;  up  now — up." 

"  Go  on  and  fear  not,  for  'tis  He  that  calls." 

Then  quick  I  flung  my  upper  garment  off 

And  went  to  Him  and  bowed  me  to  His  knees, 

And  heard  His  voice,  so  gentle,  warm  and  kind : 

"  What  wilt  thou,  friend,  that  I  shall  do  for  thee?" 

I  answered :    "  Master,  give  me  back  my  sight." 

And  once  again  that  wondrous  voice  I  heard, 

It  rings  now  in  my  ears,  and  ever  will : 

"  Then  go  thy  way,  thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole," 

And  I  could  see. 


Sc.  I]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  9 

Second  Woman. 
Deny  Him  now  who  dares ! 

The  Sadducee, 
Believe,  an  you  will,  your  vagrom  beggar-man, 
But  me  this  wittol  hardly  will  convince, 
A  visionary,  telling  dreams  awake.] 

Second  Pharisee. 
Your  Master  is  a  cheat,  imposter,  not 
A  Prophet,  no,  nor  Son  of  David  either. 

IThe  excited  crowd  attack  the  Sadducee 
and  the  Pharisees. 


Insult  the  Master. 


The  Messiah. 


Bartimaeus., 

First  Woman. 
Dare  dishonour  Him, 

Third  Pharisee. 


Silence.    Who  gave  you  the  right 
To  call  the  man  Messiah  ? 

Fourth  Pharisee. 

Not  from  God 
Is  he,  but  a  false  prophet. 

First  Voice  from  the  Crowd. 

Dare  blaspheme 
The  Man  of  God. 


lO  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

First  Pharisee. 

And  how,  then,  darest  thou 
Call  him  Messiah  and  the  Son  of  God? 

Second  Voice  from  the  Crowd. 
Samaritan,  Samaritan. 

Third  Voice. 
You  dog. 

Fifth  Voice. 
Rascal. 

Second  Pharisee. 
Make  way  there. 

First  Voice  from  the    Crowd. 
Stone  them. 

The  Sadducee  [running  to  the  guard-house]. 

Help  here. 
[The  crowd  snatch  up  stones  and  threaten 
the  Sadducee  and  the  Pharisees. 

First  Pharisee  [also  by  the  guard-house^. 

Help. 

Scene  II 

At  their  cries  the  guard  of  Roman  legionaries  with  a 
Centurion  at  their  head  rush  out  of  the  door. 

Centurion. 
What's  all  this  noise,  now  ? 


Sc.  II]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  II 

The  Sadducee. 

Noble  Roman,  haste. 
Ourselves  we  cannot  quell  these  rascals  here, 
Foul  rebels  that  have  dared  proclaim  as  King 
That  vagrom  beggar-man  from  Nazareth : 
And  we  are  loyal,  Caesar  is  our  King. 


First  Pharisee. 
Both  your  and  our  great  sovereign  lord  of  Rome. 

Second  Pharisee. 
Long  live  Tiberius. 

Third  Pharisee. 
All  honour  and 
Long  life  to  Caesar. 

Bartimaeus  \_aside'\. 

Bah,  the  hypocrites. 

First  Voice  from  the  Crowd  ^aside}. 
Lickspittle  dogs. 

Second  Voice  [asideJi. 

They'd  sell  us  all  to  save 
Their  own  most  precious  skins,  the  leasing  dogs. 
\_Murmiirs  from  the  crowd.'] 


12  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

Centurion. 

Caesar  fears  not,  nor  has  least  cause  to  fear 
This  harmless  preacher  out  of  Galilee. 

[To  the  Pharisees.'] 
No  day  goes  by  but  you  stir  discord  up. 
Most  like  yourselves  began  the  quarrel  now, 
Blasphemed  their  Prophet  and  enraged  the  crowd. 
You'd  best  be  off — get  home. 

IThe  Saddiicce  and  the  Pharisees 
retire  hastily  into  the  town. 

Scene  III 

Centurion  [to  the  crowd]. 

And  you,  move  on. 
[To  his  men.] 
If  any  man  be  caught  with  stone  in  hand, 
Seize  him  and  bind  him  fast.     Move  on.     Disperse, 

[Soldiers  seize  several  and  lead  them 
away.  Centurion  follows  after. 
Crowd  runs  all  ways,  shouting. 

Scene  IV 

First  Voice  from  the  Crowd, 
The  brutal  bullies. 

Second  Voice, 
Blackguards. 


Sc.  V]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  13 

Third  Voice. 

Murderers. 

Fourth  Voice. 
How  long  must  we  endure  the  yoke  of  Rome? 

Fifth  Voice. 

If  the  Messiah  would  but  rid  us  of 
These  heathen  dogs. 

First  Woman. 
Comes  Jesus  to  his  throne. 
And  He  will  free  us. 

Second  Woman. 

When  will  that  be — when? 
\_Stagc  empties.  Bartimaeus  exit  left. 
The  Sim  begins  to  go  down.  The 
stage  is  flooded  with  rosy  light, 
Enter  Joseph  and  Nicodemus, 
conversing. 

Scene  V 

NiCODEMUS. 

[The  Prophet  Zechariah's  words  come  true: 
"  Rejoice,  O  daughter  of  Zion,  with  great  joy. 
Behold,  thy  King  is  coming  unto  thee, 
Bringing  salvation.    Just  is  He  and  lowly, 
And  Cometh  to  thee  riding  on  an  ass; 


14  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

And  on  a  colt  that  is  the  ass's  foal." 

But  none  the  less  my  soul  is  torn  with  doubt. 

Oh,  could  I  too  but  call  Him  the  Messiah.] 

'Tis  three  years  past  and  more,  friend  Joseph,  now, 

Since  first  He  came  up  to  Jerusalem 

To  Passover.     His  doctrines,  true  and  pure, 

His  miracles,  beyond  the  power  of  man 

To  work  except  by  aid  of  power  divine 

Of  God  in  Him,  suggested  to  me  then 

That  This  was  the  Messiah  sent  from  God. 

[And  then  it  was  I  went  to  Him  by  night 

In  secret:  heard  from  His  own  lips  such  words 

As  made  me  greatly  marvel.    For  He  said 

The  kingdom  of  God  is  such  as  none  shall  see 

Save  those  divinely  born  of  water  and 

The  Spirit. 

Joseph. 
Aye,  marvellous  indeed  His  words 
Were  ever:  none  the  less,  like  swimmer  who 
Through  thickest  fog  can  still  sense  out  the  shore. 
So  with  His  mystic  words,  obscure  and  hard, 
I  somehow  feel  the  Truth  Divine  is  there   .    .    . 
But  what  came  next,  what  more  ?    Go  on,  my  friend. 

NiCODEMUS, 

The  Spirit  breatheth  where  it  will :  the  voice 

Of  the  Spirit,  though  we  hear,  we  know  not  whence 

It  comes,  nor  whither,  when  it  leaves  us,  goes. 

And  thus  it  is  with  all  divinely  born 

Of  the  Spirit. 


Sc.  V]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  15 

Joseph. 
How,  but  how  then  can  this  be? 

NiCODEMUS. 

He  spoke  with  me  of  that  which  He  doth  know, 

Gave  evidence  of  that  which  He  doth  see : 

Compassionate,  He  gently  would  upbraid 

Us  worldly  men  for  that  His  evidence 

Is  not  received  of  us.     He  spake.  He  said. 

The  things  of  this  world;  we  believed  not.    How 

Shall  we  believe,  then,  when  He  comes  to  speak 

Of  heavenly  things?     The  light  came  to  the  world. 

But  in  the  world  men  loved  the  darkness  better 

Than  light,  because  their  deeds  are  dark  and  evil ; 

Who  worketh  evil  he  doth  hate  the  light, 

And  comes  not  near  the  light,  but  fearful  goes, 

For  the  Light  casts  up  the  evil  deeds  of  men; 

But  he  that  doeth  right  himself  doth  seek 

The  Light  of  Heaven  that  his  good  deeds  may  shine 

Before  mankind  to  glorify  his  God. 

Joseph. 
What  power  they  have  to  pierce,  those  words  of  His ! 
How  deeply  in  my  soul  they  sink  and  rest ! 
Thou  speakest  them  as  from  a  reverent  heart, 
For  three  long  years  thou  bearest  them  in  mind. 
Art  willing  to  believe  His  doctrine  pure, 
That  Jesus  worketh  miracles  thou  seest — 
And  yet  thou  wilt  not  own  Him  the  Messiah?] 


i6  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

NiCODEMUS. 

And  therein  lies  the  depth  of  my  distress, 

That  while  my  heart  had  owned  Him  long  ago, 

My  brain,  filled  with  our  lore,  will  not  allow 

Of  faith  in  what  my  heart  would  fain  believe. 

[I'm  Teacher  of  the  Law  in  Israel. 

Can  I  reject  the  Prophets  and  the  Law, 

Forget  whate'er  is  contrary  to  these, 

And  reconcile  my  conscience  and  my  doubts?] 

We  know  that  Jesus  is  from  Nazareth, 

Son  of  a  carpenter;  but  He,  our  Saviour, 

The  Hope  of  Israel,  foretold  to  us 

Of  old  by  Moses,  our  Messiah,  He 

Shall  from  the  seed  of  David's  stock  be  born 

And  come  into  the  world  at  Bethlehem. 

Joseph. 
Unversed  am  I  in  lore  of  Law  and  Prophets, 
Their  wisdom  is  too  deep  for  my  poor  scope; 
Their  sanctity  I  honour  and  revere, 
But  put  my  faith  in  what  my  father  taught. 
The  sacred  utterings  of  Holy  Writ 
To  me  seem  like  the  stars  in  Heaven's  height. 
Unfathomable,  far,  and  wonderful, 
That  in  the  still  night  silence  from  the  blue 
Shed  us  their  emanations  o'er  the  earth; 
Their  never-failing  glory  draws  our  gaze 
To  Heaven's  vault  in  wonder  and  in  awe, 
But  who   shall   grasp  their   courses   through  the  void, 
Or  count  the  tale  of  their  infinity, 


Sc.  VI]        THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  \y, 

That  shining  host  beyond  our  reach  or  ken? 
But  thou,  like  to  some  learned  astronomer 
Conning  the  pages  of  the  midnight  skies, 
Hast  studied  all  the  Prophets  and  the  Law — 
/  take  blind  instincts  of  the  soul  for  guide, 
And  yield  to  sudden  dictates  of  my  heart. 

\Enter  Simon  the  Cyrenian  lead- 
ing a  she-ass  and  foal,  and 

RUFUS. 


Scene  VI 

Simon  [To  Joseph]. 
Good  morrow,  gentle  master.    I  am  here. 

Joseph. 
Whence  come  you,  Simon? 

Simon. 

Working  I  have  been : 
Was  busy  in  your  vineyards  and  your  fields, 
When  suddenly  I  hear  from  out  the  town 
Tumult  and  cheers,  quite  near;  your  honour  knows 
The  garden  runs  close  to  the  city  wall. 
I  hurried  to  the  place  whence  came  the  din. 
And  on  the  square  before  the  Temple  saw 
A  countless  throng,  with  shouts  and  cries  of  joy 
Triumphant  pressing  round  the  Teacher,  Christ; 


18  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

And  He  rode  on  in  front,  rode  on  an  ass; 
Her  foal  beside  her  ran,  and  both  were  mine. 

NiCODEMUS. 

And  how,  then,  came  they  to  the  Teacher's  use  ? 

RUFUS. 

It  happened  this  wise,  master:  I  was  left 

Alone  at  home,  my  father  out  a-field; 

So,  hearing  steps,  I  looked  me  out  at  window, 

See  dust  clouds  rising  on  the  road,  and  then 

Two  men  I  knew  not  came  up  to  our  fence, 

And  started  loosing  from  the  fig-tree  there 

Our  she-ass  that  was  tethered  in  its  shade. 

I  shouted  to  them :  "  Hold !  what  do  ye  there?  " 

They  went  on  loosing,  calmly  answering : 

"  We  take  thy  beasts,  the  Lord  hath  need  of  them." 

I  looked  about  and  there,  from  Bethany, 

Disciples  all  around,  the  Master  came. 

My  father,  brother  Alexander,  I, 

All  honour  Jesus,  so  right  willingly 

I  let  them  take  my  father's  beasts  away. 

The  Master  mounted,  and  went  on  again 

Across  the  Mount  of  Olives  to  our  town. 

And  after  Him  went  I.    Then  from  the  Mount 

As  we  came  down  it,  there  widespread  below 

Just  at  our  feet  lay  all  Jerusalem, 

With  all  the  mid-day  sun's  gold  rays  ablaze. 

[We  started  singing  hymns  of  praise,  Hosanna ; 

And  when  they  heard  the  hymns  from  out  the  town 


Sc.  VI]        THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  19 

The  people  poured  in  crowds,  and  after  them 

More  crowds  and  more.     We  at  the  Prophet's  feet 

Our  garments  spread,  strewed  flowers  in  His  way. 

Scarce  had  He  entered  at  the  city  gates 

When  all  Jerusalem  was  quick  with  life. 

And  joyously  rang  out  the  people's  cheers: 

"  Hosanna,  King  of  Israel,  Hosanna!" 

With  us  went  in  the  crowd  some  notables 

That  looked  askance  with  evil-boding  eye 

Upon  the  Just  One;  up  to  Him  they  came, 

And  whispered  in  His  ear  with  mocking  threat: 

"  These  hear  Thy  doctrine.    Look  Thou  to  its  fruit!  " 

And  them  He  answered  naught  but  this :  "  I  tell  you, 

If  these  whom  I  do  teach  should  hold  their  peace, 

The  very  stones  would  cry  aloud  for  them."] 

Simon. 
He  halted  at  the  entrance  to  the  Temple, 
And  as  He  stopped,  I  to  the  Teacher  rushed, 
And  caught  and  held  my  ass's  bridle-rein 
While  he  dismounted ;  and  He  knew  me  then. 
First  looking  on  me  with  a  gentle  smile. 
Then  gazing  steadfastly,  He  softly  said: 
"  One  service  thou  hast  done  for  Me  this  day; 
Full  soon  I  wait  from  thee  another,  Simon." 
Then  slowly  with  that  word  began  to  mount 
The  great  broad  steps  of  marble  leading  to 
God's  temple.     [In  the  Porch  of  Solomon 
Round  Him  the  little  children  came  in  throngs — . 
Children  He  loves  and  ay  caresses  them ; 


20  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

Round  Him  they  press  and  sing :  "  Hosanna  to 

The  Son  of  David !  "  picking  up  the  cry 

From  fathers,  elder  brothers,  in  the  crowd. 

The  chief  priest  came,  with  indignation  moved, 

And  said  to  Him :  "  Thou  canst  not  help  but  hear 

These  children's  cries."    And  Jesus  saith  to  them: 

"  Yea,  did  ye  never  read  King  David's  words : 

'  Thou  hast  from  out  the  mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings 

Perfected  praise  '  ?  "]    So  I  betook  me  home 

With  one  thought  filled,  and  vainly  casting  round 

To  guess  what  service  else  I  yet  might  chance 

To  find  and  do  for  Him,  the  Man  of  God. 

RUFUS. 

His  words  of  their  fulfilment  never  fail. 

Simon. 

Well,  Rufus,  you  and  I  must  home.    Good  even, 
And  may  God  keep  you. 

Joseph, 

Peace  to  you.    Farewell. 
[Exeunt  Simon  and  Rufus.    Joseph 
and  NicoDEMUS  sit  down  L.  under 
the  olive  tree. 

NiCODEMUS. 

[These  peasants'  pure  simplicity  of  soul, 
Ay  touches  me,  and  makes  me  envious  too ; 
In  all  the  heart's  dictates  they  blindly  trust 


Sc.  VII]      THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  21 

Nor  ever  know  a  doubt.    So  are  the  birds 
Of  Heaven  and  the  beasts  that  range  the  fields; 
They  hammer  not  with  logic-loaded  brain 
Upon  the  fast  shut  door  of  wisdom's  shrine. 
They  find  life  simple,  know  no  fear  of  death. 
Mere  being  holds  no  mysteries  for  them. 

Joseph, 

The  people  see  in  Jesus  the  Messiah; 

But  others — Pharisees  and  Sadducees, 

Our  lawyers  and  our  scribes — I  fear  me  much 

Will  never  share  the  people's  faith  in  Him. 

His  teaching  is  but  little  to  their  minds, 

The  law  of  love,  forgiveness  of  all  wrongs, 

Attracts  not  them  whose  hearts  are  hardened  o'er; 

Their  covetousness,  pride,  hypocrisy, 

Cannot  endure  to  be  found  out  and  blamed. 

Among  the  Sanhedrin  their  malice  grows 

Ripe  for  a  struggle  to  the  bitter  end, 

And  Jesus  is  foredoomed  by  them  to  die.] 


Scene  VII 

^Enter  the  Saddiicec  and  several  Pharisees.     They  do 
not  notice  Joseph  and  Nicodemus. 

The  Sadducee. 

Here  we  may  speak  securely  and  discuss 
This  Jesus   .    .    . 


22  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

NiCODEMUS. 

So,  they  speak  of  Jesus,  then. 
You  hear  them,  Joseph? 

Joseph. 

Aye,  I  hear  them;  you 
And  I,  we  know  them  well.    I  have  no  wish 
To  meet  the  men;  'tis  little  good  will  come 
From  such.    [Going.'] 

NiCODEMUS  [detaining  him']. 
Hush,  friend. 

First  Pharisee. 

I  was  not  in    the  Temple; 
What  was  it  happened  there  ? 

The  Sadducee. 

Why  this,  just  hark; 
Yon  Galilaean  prophet  who's  possessed 
Of  devils — say,  that  vagrom  beggar-man   .    .    . 

First  Pharisee. 
All  one,  go  on. 

The  Sadducee. 

He  got  into  the  Temple.  >,  ,.  i., 

Second  Pharisee. 
Picked  up  a  rope's  end  somewhere,  knotted  it, 
And  threatening  began  to  order  all : 
To  cast  out  them  that  sold  and  bought  there  and   .    .    .: 


Sc.  VII]         THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  23 

Third  Pharisee. 

He  overthrew  the  seats  of  them  that  sold 
The  doves  inside  the  Temple.    .    .    . 

Fourth  Pharisee, 

Overthrew? 
The  moneychangers'  tables.   .    .    ., 

The  Sadducee. 

Would  not  suffer 
The  carrying  of  vessels  through  the  Temple.  .  .  . 

Second  Pharisee. 

Began — and  in  the  chief  priest's  presence  too — • 

To  cry  aloud  and  call  upon  the  folk 

To  mind  the  words  Isaiah  spake,  and  said : 

"  My  house  shall  be  a  house  of  prayer  for  all 

The  nations — and  ye  have  made  of  it 

A  den  of  robbers." 

First  Pharisee. 

Nay,  it  goes  too  far, 
We  must  be  rid  of  Him. 

Second  Pharisee. 

What  insolence. 

First  Pharisee. 
He  must  be  put  away. 


24  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

The  Sadducee. 

For  this  it  was 
I  called  you  forth  the  town.    Here  are  we  safe 
In  open  air  far  from  yon  cursed  mob, 
That  after  its  supposed  Messiah  runs 
Like  silly  flock  of  sheep :  here  we  can  take 
Counsel  together  what  were  best  to  do. 
We  Sadducees,  'tis  true,  have  oft  enough 
Had  cause  of  quarrel  with  you  Pharisees; 
But,  since  this  Jesus  threats  both  you  and  us 
With  ruin,  we  should  join  our  forces  now. 
You  see  yourselves  how  weak  we  are  'fore  Him, 
The  whole  world  follows  after  Him,  for  sake 
Of  miracles  they  say  He  did.     If  we 
Leave  Him  at  liberty  our  own  folk  too 
Will  soon  believe  in  Him;  nay,  who  shall  say? 
They  might  proclaim  Him  King  o'er  all  Judaea. 
Then  at  a  swoop  the  cursed  Romans  seize 
Our  country  and  destroy  our  Holy  Zion. 
Destroy  the  Temple  built  by  Solomon. 

First  Pharisee. 
'Twere  best  one  fnan  should  for  the  chosen  tribe, 
One  man,  this  Galilaean,  He  should  die. 
And  not  that  all  of  us  should  die  for  Him. 

Second  Pharisee. 
Aye,  and  so  save  if  but  the  shadow  of 
The  liberty  we  still  enjoy  from  Rome. 


Sc.VIl]       THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  25 

Third  Pharisee. 
So  may  Judaea  flourish,  live  for  ay. 

Fourth  Pharisee. 
May  Israel  flourish  and  our  people  live. 

First  Pharisee. 
Death  to  the  Nazarene. 

Second  Pharisee. 

Slay  the  false  Prophet. 

Third  Pharisee. 
The  Galilaean  dies. 

Fourth  Pharisee. 
Aye,  let  Him  die. 

The  Sadducee. 

Ye  do  not  understand  this  thing.    Just  now 

Ye  cannot  lay  a  finger  on  Him.    Why, 

The  mob  just  dote  on  Him.    Yourselves,  but  now. 

Saw  how  the  senseless  multitude  behaved, 

In  triumph  pressing  round  their  idol  there. 

They'll  stone  to  death  that  moment  any  man 

Who  should  but  dare  refuse  to  honour  Him. 

But  wait  a  while :  this  frenzy  will  abate. 

And  if,  without  the  mob  .  .  . 

First  Pharisee  [dropping  his  voiced. 

That's  it,  that's  it. 
On  the  quiet  .  .  . 


26  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

Second  Pharisee  \_the  same}. 
some  deserted  spot  .  .  . 

Third  Pharisee  [the  same'\. 

by  night  .  .  . 


Pitch  darkness 


First  Pharisee. 

The  Sadducee. 
Suddenly  we  seize  this  Jesus 

First  Pharisee. 
Drag  Him  to  trial  in  the  high  priest's  court  .  .  . 

Second  Pharisee. 
We'll  find  the  witnesses   .    .    . 

Third  Pharisee. 

Invent  a  crime  .    . 

Fourth  Pharisee. 
And  sentence  Him  to  death  as  easily  .    .    . 

Joseph  [^aside  to  Nicodemus]. 
How  base,   abominable.      Foul   assassins. 
'Tis  more  than  I  can  hear  and  hold  my  peace. 

Nicodemus  [aside  to  Joseph]. 
Be  calm,   our  interference  would  not  help. 


Sc.  VII]       THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  27 

The  Sadducee, 

And  this  same  crowd  that  after  Him  to-day 
Runs  triumphing,  acclaiming  Him  their  King, 
Nay,  makes  a  God  of  Him,  will  then  believe 
In  us  for  having  dared  condemn  the  false 
Messiah:   will   themselves   demand   His   death. 

Second  Pharisee. 

Quite  right,  quite  right;  the  people's  mind  ay  changes, 
Unstable,  fickle  as  the  April  skies.  , 

First  Pharisee. 

To  catch  Him  in  a  lone  deserted  spot 

Without  the  people's  knowledge,  we  must  learn 

Where  He  is  wont  to  walk  and  where  He  sleeps.  .  .  . 

The  Sadducee, 
All  this  hath  been  my  task  to  learn  betimes. 
Of  His  disciples  one  is  not  unknown 
iTo  me:  his  name  is  Judas,  who  is  called 
Iscariot.     The  chink  of  silver  sounds 
Sweeter  to  him  than  what  his  Master  preaches 
On  covetousness.     Well,  I  offered  him, 
This  Judas,  silver  that  he  loves;  as  yet 
We  do  not  come  to  terms ;  but  all  is  well : 
His  talk  already  plainly  shows  his  greed. 

Second  Pharisee. 

The  sooner  comes  the  time  to  make  away 
With  this  false  God,  the  better 


28  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

Third  Pharisee  [fo  the  Sadducee]. 

I  will  join 
In  all  ye  do. 

First,  Second  and  Fourth  Pharisees. 
And  I. 

Nicodemus  [to  Joseph]. 
I'm  going  home. 

The  Sadducee. 

With  all  my  heart  I  thank  you  all  for  this 
Support  in  our  just  cause.     But  hark  ye,  not 
A  word  must  slip  of  this. 

First  Pharisee. 

What  noise  is  that? 

[Procula^  borne  by  slaves  in  a 
litter,  enters  from  the  town. 
Joanna  w  another  chair. 
Nicodemus,  concealed  behind 
the  olive  tree,  retires  into  the 
town. 


Scene  VIII 

Second  Pharisee. 
'Tis  Pilate's  wife  comes  out  to  take  the  air. 


Sc.  VII]     THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  29 

Third  Pharisee. 
The  other? 

Second  Pharisee. 
That's  Joanna,  husband's  name 
Is  Chiiza,  master  of  the  household  to 
King  Herod.     She,  with  His  disciples,  and 
The  Magdalene,  came  out  of  Galilee 
To  follow  Jesus  to  Jerusalem.  .  .  . 
She  thinks  no  shame  with  Romans  to  consort. 
E'en  visits  them  at  home. 

The  Sadducee  \_zvith  a  lowly  bow.'\ 

My  service,  Madam. 

First  Pharisee. 
Greeting,  oh  Procula. 

Second  Pharisee. 

Long  life  and  health. 

Third  Pharisee. 
And  happiness. 

Fourth  Pharisee. 
And  peace  and  every  blessing. 

Procula. 

1 

;  J  ,tkink  you  all.     My  greetmgs  m  return. 

IT  he  Sadducee  and  the   Pharisees 

retire  into  the  town. 


30  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

Scene  IX 

Joseph  \_comes  forzvard  to  meet  Procula  and  stops  her 
bearers  with  a  gesture']. 

I  had  not  ventured,  lady,  to  intrude 

My  greetings  were  it  not  a  weighty  cause 

Had  made  me  bold  to  be  so  troublesome. 

Procula  [fo  bearers']. 

Set  down  my  chair  beneath  the  pleasant  shade 
Of  yonder  olive  tree.     My  greeting,  Joseph. 
I  learned  at  Csesarea  how  to  love 
The  blue  horizon  of  the  ocean  waves; 
I  came  here  for  the  feast,  and  scarce  can  breathe 
In  this  dust-driven  town ;  outside  its  walls 
I  seek  a  breath  of  good  fresh  air  afield 
To  fill  my  lungs  and  give  me  life  again; 
But  here  or  anywhere  I  hear  you  gladly. 

Joseph. 

Madam,  I  know  that  you,  with  your  warm  heart, 
Have  ever  boldly  championed  the  truth. 
That  your  quick  sense  and  mind  will  ne'er  allow 
The  just  and  innocent  to  suffer  wrong. 

Procula. 

At  any  time,  and  anywhere,  I'm  pleased 
To  meet  you,  Joseph,  and  be  sure,  if  ever 
You  find  for  me  occasion  to  do  good 
I  shall  be  grateful  always  and  too  glad. 


Sc.  IX]        THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  31 

Joseph. 

I  cannot  doubt  but  Procula  hath  heard 
Pf  Jesus  called  the  Galilsean? 


Joanna. 

Ah! 

Procula. 
Of  Jesus?     Hear  you  that,  Joanna  mine, 
Of  Him  will  this  friend  also  speak  to  me. 
How  often  this  one  day  I've  heard  that  name 
Ring  in  my  ears.     Why,  not  a  moment  gone 
We  two  were  busy  talking  all  of  Him. 
Of  Him  I  have  heard,  Joseph,  very  oft, 
And  eagerly  I  longed  to  look  on  Him. 
An  ardent  wish  I  cherished  all  in  vain 
Until  to-day,  when,  not  an  hour  agone. 
He  passed  our  house  quite  close  to  me— for  there 
The  road  is  narrow — riding  on  an  ass. 
At  first  I  could  not  see  His  countenance, 
For  He  was  riding  with  His  head  down  drooped, 
But  as  He  came  abreast  our  residence 
He  lifted  up  His  eyes  to  mine  and  long 
Fixed  me  with  steadfast  gaze  that  searched  me  through. 
Never  in  all  my  life  have  I  once  seen 
In  any  man  so  beautiful  a  face, 
Such  marvel  of  expression — majesty 
And  meekness,  grief  and  patience,  all  in  one. 


32  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

Joseph. 

When,  Madam,  to  this  place  you  just  now  came 

Some  rulers  of  the  Jews  you  met  with  here. 

Now,  but  few  moments  ere  you  reached  this  place, 

I  overheard,  unknown  to  them,  their  talk : 

They  plotted  cunningly  together  how 

To  seize  Him,  lay  false  charges  of  some  crime, 

And  sentence  Him  to  death, 

Joanna. 

Impossible^ 

Procula. 
What  hath  He  done  that's  capital? 

Joseph. 

They  mus? 
Deliver  Him  for  judgment  up  to  Rome. 
Madam,  you  know  the  Procurator  only 
Confirms,  annuls  all  sentences  of  death. 
With  thee,  then,  Procula,  from  now  on  rests 
The  life  of  Jesus.    Pilate  must  be  told 
How,  solely  out  of  envy,  evil-doers 
Have  dared  condemn  a  righteous  man  to  death. 
Thy  spouse  is  Roman  born,  he  ne'er  will  see 
The  equitable  laws  of  Rome  here  set 
At  naught,  nor  suffer  that  base  calumny 
Should  steal  a  victory  o'er  honest  truth. 


Sc.  X]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  33 

Procula. 

My  husband  shall  know  all  that  I  have  heard 
Just  as  you  tell  it  me. 

Joseph. 

The  sun  hath  set : 
Farewell,  'tis  time  I  rest  now,  Procula, 
As  is  our  custom.    Greeting  and  farewell. 

Procula. 

Good  even,  Joseph,  fare  you  well.  But  if 
There  should  be  aught  you  can  discover  more 
Of  Jesus,  fail  me  not  to  come,  I  pray  you. 
To  the  Prsetorium.    At  any  hour 
I  shall  be  glad  to  see  you. 

Joseph. 

Peace  to  you. 

[Exit. 


Scene  X 

Procula  [to  Joanna], 

When  Pilate  was  appointed  to  Judaea 

I  came  in  fear  and  trembling  to  this  place; 

I  thought  to  find  here  just  barbarians. 

Irreconcilable  and  dark  fanatics ; 

And  lo,  I  meet  with  such  an  one  as  Joseph. 

Here  also  you  and  I  made  friends,  Joanna. 


34  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  T 

'Tis  plain  to  me  that  he,  like  you,  reveres 

This  Teacher  who  came  out  of  Galilee. 

Tell  me,  what  was't  in  Jesus  caught  you  first? 

Joanna. 

Ah,  Procula,  you  ask? — and  have  yourself 
Seen  Him  this  day.     You  cannot  but  have  felt, 
As  I,  the  god-like  charm  that  flows  from  Him. 

Procula. 

£To  you  I  will  confess  the  truth,  Joanna. 
He  turned  His  gaze  upon  me  as  He  passed — 
Methought  Eternity  had  cast  a  glance 
Into  my  soul :  His  look  is  not  of  earth : 
Unfathomable  depths  of  Love  Divine 
And  boundless  Pity  beam  in  those  pure  eyes; 
His  look  will  lifelong  in  my  memory  dwell.] 

Joanna. 
And  do  you  ask  what  catches  all  men's  souls? 

Procula. 
I  cannot  just  to  feeling  all  surrender, 
But  fain  would  seek  by  dint  of  reason,  judgment. 
To  grasp  the  means  by  which  He  wins  all  to  Him, 
And  understand  what  force  compels  men's  hearts. 
Whence  comes  He?  and  who  are  His  mother,  father? 
What  do  you  know  of  them? 

Joanna. 

I  know  they  are 
Of  Galilee,  and  Nazareth  their  town. 


Sc.  X]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  35 

The  father  long  since  dead.    They  say  he  was 
Descended  from  the  great  King  David's  House, 
But  born  in  poverty  and  ay  lived  poor, 
A  carpenter,  and  that  he  taught  his  Son 
That  handicraft.    And  on  the  father's  death, 
Scarce  out  of  boyhood,  Jesus,  left  alone. 
By  working  as  a  carpenter  maintained 
His  Mother  Mary. 

Procula. 

Born  of  a  race  of  kings, 
Aye,  but  a  carpenter,  obscure,  unknown. 
How  comes  it  He  hath  power  over  minds? 

Joanna. 

It  is  the  hearts  He  reads :  men's  secrets  all 
Are  open  books  to  Him.    He  is  endowed 
With  wondrous  power  in  working  miracles. 

Procula. 

About  His  miracles  I've  heard  from  you 

Before,  Joanna ;  but  with  miracles 

I  scarce  shall  be  persuaded.    We  in  Rome 

Hear  oft  enough  of  miracles,  of  cures 

At  shrines  of  Isis,  ^sculapius. 

But  I  want  proofs  more  povv^erful  than  these 

Before  I  can,  or  dare,  put  perfect  faith 

In  His  Divinity.    But  tell  me  more: 

Just  now  you  spoke  about  His  mother,  named 

Her  name  to  me.     You  are  acquainted,  then? 

Was't  long  ago  you  met  her  first,  Joanna? 


2,6  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

Joanna. 

I  know  her,  Procula,  we  are  old  friends : 

And  glad  am  I  that  fate  so  happily 

Brought  me  to  know  that  Fairest  of  all  Women. 

One  sees  in  Springtide  Nature  sometimes  hastes 

To  show  at  one  display  and  once  for  all 

The  multitudinous  sum-total  of 

Her  charms :  when  lightly  stirs  the  fragrant  air. 

And  early  flowers  variegate  the  fields, 

And  nightingales  con  o'er  their  first  sweet  thrills — 

So  the  Creator  hath  in  Mary's  face 

Joined  all  the  virtues,  all  perfection  there. 

The  pure  sweet  freshness  of  unclouded  dawn, 

The  calm  of  evening  twilight's  still  repose. 

The  tender  brightness  of  the  moon's  soft  rays, 

The  lilies  of  the  field — their  innocence, 

The  meekness  and  devotion  of  the  dove. 

'Twas  with  white  lily  wand,  true  sign,  in  hand 

The  winged  messenger  of  Heaven  flew 

To  her  when  she  became  the  Mary  Mother, 

Bringing  glad  tidings  of  the  birth  of  Christ. 

[Thenceforth  right  oft  the  v/ives  of  Nazareth 

Have  seen — and  I,  too,  many  times  myself 

Have  chanced  to  note  when'er  I  met  with  her — 

Now  to  the  well,  her  pitcher  poised  aloft. 

Coming  with  nimble  foot  adown  the  hill, 

Now  as  she  sate  a-spinning  at  her  door, 

Or  by  the  garden  gate  at  sunset  hour 

Conversing  with  the  neighbours'  wives  awhile — 


Sc.  X]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  37 

Her  face  all  suddenly  would  glow  with  light, 
And  she,  forgetting  all  around,  would  turn 
On  someone  never  visible  to  us 
The  glory  in  her  face  and  murmuring  lips : 
'Twas  with  the  angels  she  was  speaking  then. 

Procula. 

You  touch  me  and  my  heart  leaps  up  the  while 
I  listen  to  your  story;  for  indeed 
Its  mystery,  the  hidden  things  it  shows, 
Its  gentle  charm  'bove  all,  have  in  my  soul 
Struck  music  from  some  chords  I  knew  not  of: 
Though  miracles  affront  cold  reason's  test, 
Yet  after  all  we  dare  not  quite  deny 
That  some  community  there  is  between 
This  world  we  see  and  that  invisible. 

Joanna. 
Our  sinful  eyes  indeed  may  well  not  see 
What  is  revealed  to  Mary's  Heavenly  gaze.] 

Procula. 

Which  is,  in  truth,  the  happier  of  these, 
Or  Mary,  that  gave  life  to  such  a  Son, 
Or  Jesus  that  He  such  a  mother  loves? 
[But  tell  me  more  of  Him. 

Joanna. 

While  yet  a  child 
They  say  He  often  worked  strange  miracles : 


38  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 

As  once  in  fashioning  toy-birds  of  clay, 

Those  that  His  comrades'  hands  had  made  remained 

Mere  kimps  of  clay,  of  course,  but  those  He  made 

Took  life,  and  trembling  in  the  tiny  hands 

Broke  out  in  song  and  up  to  Heaven  soared. 

And  later — He  was  then  a  handsome  youth — 

On  something  He  was  busily  at  work. 

Using  His  plane:  the  shavings  fell  all  round 

In  twining  rings  gold-tinted  in  the  sun; 

A  beggar-woman  passed  the  open  door 

And  asked  an  alms.    The  youthful  carpenter 

Searched  all  the  corners,  begged  His  mother  give, 

For  she  sate  spinning  there,  if  but  a  shekel — 

And  not  an  obol  had  they  in  the  house. 

Then  with  a  smile  He  picked  a  shaving  up 

And  gave  it  to  the  woman :  as  she  took 

The  shaving  from  His  hand  it  turned  to  gold.] 

Procula. 

That  which  I  chiefly  seek  to  know  is  what 
He  teaches  you. 

Joanna. 

He  calls  us  to  repent : 
He  bids  us  love  our  very  enemies. 
And  for  our  neighbours,  love  them  as  ourselves. 
He  teaches  to  repay  with  good  e'en  them 
That  hate  us  and  despite  fully  abuse  us. 
Hath  promised  blessings  and  the  Heavenly  Kingdom 
To  all  who  for  the  Truth  are  persecuted, 
To  them  that  thirst  and  hunger  after  Truth, 


Sc.  X]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  39 

The  pure  in  heart,  peacemakers  and  the  meek. 

The  merciful  and  all  the  poor  in  spirit: 

To  them  that  mourn  He  offers  consolation. 

He  says  to  all  men  when  they  are  reviled, 

And  evil  spoken  'gainst  them  for  His  sake : 

"  Rejoice  and  be  exceeding  glad,  for  great 

Is  your  reward  in  Heaven,"  and  again: 

"  Like  to  a  beacon  let  your  light  so  shine 

'Fore  men  that  they  may  see  your  works  are  good, 

That  so  shall  they  exalt  and  glorify 

Your  everlasting  Father  in  the  Highest." 

Procula. 
Your  words,  Joanna,  reach  both  heart  and  ears. 
My  soul  half  swoons  in  utter  sweetness  lapped : 
Such  words  caress  and  touch  and  stir  the  depths — 
I  hear  as  'twere  some  old  familiar  strain, 
Some  music  that,  I  know  not  when  or  where, 
Once  held  me  long  ago,  forgotten  dreams, 
Or  songs  one's  mother  o'er  the  cradle  crooned.  .  .  . 

[/w  the  distance,  from  the  town  is 
heard,  at  first  very  faintly  but 
then  gradually  louder  and 
louder,  the  siuging  of  Christ's 
disciples.^  Darkness  has  set  in. 


*THE  HYMN. 

Oh  hear  me,  Lord  God  of  Salvation, 
I  cry  in  my  need  unto  Thee, 

And  warm  is  my  heart's  supplication 
Alway,  everywhere  unto  Thee. 


40  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I 


Scene  XI 

Procula. 
But  it  is  dark :  look,  the  first  star  comes  out 
Upon  the  bUie  of  Heaven.    Pontius  waits  me 
To  table  for  the  evening  meal;  I'm  late 
And  should  be  home  by  now.     What  sounds  are  those 
Far  off  that  through  the  stillness  faintly  come? 
You  hear  it  now? — is't  singing  in  the  town?. 
Yes,  it  is  music,  now  I  plainly  hear 
Men's  voices  singing. 

Joanna. 

Jesus  now  returns, 
Leaving  the  town  He  goes  to  Bethany 
Where  Lazarus,  His  friend,  and  the  two  sisters 
Of  Lazarus  live;  beneath  their  welcome  roof 
The  Master  ay  finds  where  to  lay  His  head. 
His  mother,  too,  who  came  up  for  the  feast, 
Is  staying  there,  awaiting  the  return 
Of  her  beloved  Son  to  Lazarus'  home. 
Yes,  it  is  He  who  comes,  I  can  make  out 

By  day  and  by  night  without  sleeping 
To  Heaven  rise    my    prayers  unto  Thee; 

Oh  God,  hear  the  voice  of  my  weeping, 
My  God,  turn  Thine  ear  unto    me. 

Time  was  I  found  joy  in    ill-doing, 

All  evil  my  soul  was  'fore  Thee, 
I  went  down  to  hell  and  my    ruin. 

Thy  wrath  now  is  heavy  on  me. 


Sc.  XII]       THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  4I 

The  words  of  David's  psalm,  and  those  who  sing 
Are  His  disciples,  Jesus'  chosen  twelve. 


Procula. 

Make  haste,  then,  men.    Oh,  if  but  once  again 
I  should  have  grace  to  look  upon  the  Christ. 

[Procula  and  Joanna  are  carried 
off.  The  stage  remains  some 
time  vacant. 


Scene  XII 

Bartimaeus   enters  L.      The  singing   from  the   town 

grows  louder. 

Bartimaeus. 

Oh  now,  at  last,  to  see  Thee  once  again. 

What  though  Heaven's  darkness  falls  upon  the  earth 

And  in  its  gloom  my  vision  be  obscured. 

Since  Thou  my  Light  art.  Master,  Light  unending. 

For  I  was  blind,  not  merely  blind  of  eye, 

I  lie  in  the  pit  that  is  under, 

The  grave  spreads  its  vault  over  me, 

With  grief  is  my  soul  torn  asunder, 
Oh  hear  when  I  cry  unto  Thee. 

Thou  knowest  the    shame    I    am    feeling. 

For  weeping  my  eyes  hardly  see, 
All  day  and  all  night  in  appealing 

I  lift  up  my  hands  unto  Thee. 


42         THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  I,  Sc.  XII 

[For  long,  long  years  my  soul  had  been  as  blind, 
In  darkness  pent,  ay  weary,  suffering, 
Till  I  had  all  forgot  the  right  and  good, 
And  but  some  dim  remembrance  faintly  shone 
Of  that  pure  innocence  my  childhood  knew, 
And  like  the  flicker  of  a  far-off  beam 
Was  there,  but  powerless  to  warm  my  soul.] 
Then  came  that  miracle,  which  Thou  didst  work 
On  sinful  me.    I  rose  and  followed  Thee, 
Was  blessed  to  hear  Thy  holy  words  of  Life, 
And  shuddered  at  the  darkness  of  my  soul. 
Oh,  come,  be  near,  Messiah,  David's  Son, 
Thou  who  didst  ope  my  fleshly  eyes  to  Light, 
Ope  now  the  eyes  that  to  my  soul  belong, 
Lighten  my  darkness,  Oh,  Rabboni,  Christ. 

[Kneels  down  stretching  forth  his 
arms  toward  Jesus,  zvho  is  not 
yet  seen. 

[The  hymn  is  now  heard  in  full  strength  behind  the 
narrow  passage  at  back  of  stage,  and  continues  till  the 
curtain  falls.'\ 

[curtain  falls  slowly.] 
END  OF  ACT  THE  FIRST. 


Oh  hearken,   I  make  supplication  ! 

Oh  Lord,  I  am  naught  before  Thee, 
Yet  hear  me,  oh,   God  of    Salvation, 

And  let  my  prayer  come  unto  Thee. 


ACT  THE  SECOND 

The  official  residence  of  Pontius  Pilate,  Procurator  of 
Judaea.  The  peristyle  of  the  Palace  formerly  belonging 
to  King  Herod  the  Great. 

Two  walls  meet  at  a  right  angle  at  the  back  of  the 
stage.  In  the  wall  R.  are  two  doors;  the  first,  nearest 
the  audience,  leads  to  the  judgment  seat,  lithostroton  or 
gabbatha ;  it  remains  closed  up  to  Sc.  xx. ;  the  second 
door  leads  to  the  inner  apartments  of  Pilate.  In  the 
wall  L.  is  a  third  door,  hidden  by  hangings;  it  leads 
to  the  outer  entrance  to  the  Palace.  Between  the  two 
doors  R.  is  a  niche  with  marble  statue. 

At  some  distance  from  the  walls  and  parallel  to 
them  runs  a  colonnade  of  several  columns  supporting 
a  roof  over  the  colonnade;  the  floor  of  the  colonnade 
is  raised  above  the  level  of  the  stage  by  four  steps  of 
marble  leading  to  each  of  the  three  doors.  The  colon- 
nade leads  L.  to  Procula's  apartments,  and  R.  to  other 
inner  apartments. 

In  the  middle  of  the  stage,  which  is  covered  with  a 
mosaic  floor,  stands  a  marble  fountain  of  running 
water.  The  opening  in  the  roof  is  covered  by  a  velum 
of  fine  texture  which  admits  the  light  from  above. 

43 


44  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  II 

The  appointments  of  the  Palace  are  appropriately 
rich:  a  couch,  tables,  chairs,  benches,  marbles, 
bronzes,  vases  with  flowers,  censers,  candelabra,  rugs 
and  other  rich  tissues. 

The  Act  opens  at  early  morning  twilight. 

Scene  I 

Leah,  alone,  is  discovered  seated  on  a  marble  bench 
engaged  in  scouring  a  silver  ewer.  Alexander 
runs  in  greatly  agitated. 

Alexander. 
My  sweetheart,  Leah  mine,  light  of  my  eyes ! 

Leah. 
Hush!  softly.     Oh,  be  careful,  Alexander! 

Alexander. 

There's  no  one  there!    Oh,  Leah,  darling  mine! 
The  whole  night  long  I  never  closed  an  eye, 
And  still  I'm  all  a-tremble  for  our  love; 
There's  some  ill  fate  is  hanging  over  us. 

Leah. 

My  Alexander,  how  thy  words  affright 

My  very  soul!    What  is  it?    What  hath  happened? 

Alexander. 

But  yestereve  I  told  my  love,  and  you 
When  in  the  garden  of  Gethsemane 


Sc.  I]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  45 

Those  voices  frightened  us ;  you  promised  me 

To  meet  again  elsewhere  in  some  lone  spot, 

And  hied  you  thither,  while  I  watched  you  go; 

I  followed  you  afar  that  none  might  see 

Us  two  together  there.    Then  all  at  once 

My  way  was  barred ;  there  came  a  throng,  among  them 

The  chief  priest's  servants.    By  the  torches'  flare 

I  saw  them  plainly,  but  could  not  make  out 

Who  'twas  they  led  with  them ;  I  recognised 

Some  Roman  soldiers,  for  their  helms  of  brass 

And  breast-plates,  flashing  back  the  torches'  flame, 

Shone  in  the  moon's  bright  light.    And  all  the  throng 

Was  armed  with  swords  and  staves.  .  .  .  Ah !  Leah, 

why. 
You  cruel  girl,  w^hy  kept  you  not  that  promise 
To  give  me  if  'twere  but  some  moments  more 
In  the  lone  valley  of  Jehoshaphat? 
Why  not  have  waited  me  a  while  beside 
The  bridge  that  crosses  Kedron's  brook,  beneath 
The  ancient  cypress  tree  that  guards  the  tomb?. 
You  did  not  wait  me.    Why? 

Leah. 

I  did  wait  there ; 
But  even  there  I  heard  the  crowd  behind ; 
They  frightened  me.  ...  I  ran  the  whole  way  home. 
Oh !  why  were  we  disturbed  ?    And  why  did  you 
Not  overtake  me,  Alexander  mine  ? 

Alexander. 
Hush !  Leah,  soft !    They're  still  asleep ;  speak  low ! 


46  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  H 

Leah. 

I  never  shall  forget  that  last  night's  tryst: 
The  moon's  soft  rays,  the  branching  olive's  shade, 
The  murmur  of  the  stream,  and  oh,  those  words 
I  longed  for  so,  when  first,  dear,  you  declared 
Your  love  for  me ;  it  all  seems  like  a  dream, 

[Joanna  appears  in  the  doorway  II., 
unnoticed  by  them. 

But  something  still  is  wanting,  as  'tis  ever. 
To  make  our  joy  complete.    Could  we  but  tell 
The  Master,  our  dear  Master.    He's  so  good, 
So  merciful  and  meek,  and  oh,  so  kind! 
If  only  He  would  say  a  word  for  us. 
And  with  His  prayers  bless  our  marriage-bed! 

Alexander. 

Oh,  Leah,  dearest,  think !  We  both  are  slaves. 

And  have  no  right  to  marry  by  the  law. 

A  slave  I  am,  and  all  my  joy  have  found 

In  thee,  though  till  last  night  we  scarce  exchanged 

Ten  words  together.     But  my  eyes  were  ay 

On  you,  and  jealously  each  movement  watched. 

How  grateful  am  I  for  that  happy  night. 

For  all  the  balmy  airs  of  wakening  Spring, 

For  our  love's  meeting  in  the  lonely  wood ! 

The  words  came  pouring  forth  before  I  knew.  .  .  . 

And  you,  my  palm  of  Jericho,  my  rose, 

Engaddi's  best,  you  listened  to  my  love ! 


Sc.  II]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  '4;^ 

My  dearest,  mine !    My  rose  of  Sharon  thou, 
My  shapely  cedar  of  Mount  Lebanon! 


Scene  II 

Joanna  {approaching  unheard  behind  them']. 
My  greeting  to  you,  friends! 

[They  start  up  in  alarm.     Day 
dawns. 

Your  hopes  are  bright 
And  you  with  heart  and  soul  have  yielded  to  them ! 
Well,  love  is  like  the  sun:  it  blinds  the  eyes, 
And  makes  a  mirage  that  entices  far  I 

[Notices  the  ewer  and  examines  it. 
What  a  fine  work  of  art  I    One  can't  mistake 
The  cunning  hand  of  the  true  craftsman  here  I 
[The  silversmith  who  chased  this  must  have  been, 
Surely,  Demetrius  of  Ephesus; 
Or  else,  maybe,  the  far-famed  Zenodorus.] 
A  heathen  thing,  yet  beautiful  withal ! 
And  what  a  myth  it  tells !    Here's  Cupid  winged 
Like  any  youth  in  love;  and  Psyche  there, 
The  soul  that  never  dies — his  mate  for  life. 
It  might  be  Alexander  and  his  Leah! 
My  friends,  I  overheard  unwittingly 
Your  hearts'  confession  of  your  trustful  love. 
Your  secret  I've  surprised  and  it  is  mine, 


48  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  II 

But  for  the  crime  of  stealing  on  your  love 

I  willingly  will  pay  you  with  my  aid;  I 

With  Procula  I  will  make  interest 

To  get  you  freed  by  Pilate 

Alexander. 

God  in  Heaven 
Reward  your  good  heart,  lady ! 

Leah. 

And  return 
An  hundredfold,  dear  lady,  all  the  kindness 
You  show  to  us  poor  slaves! 

Joanna. 

Indeed,  my  heart 
Is  sore  to  think  of  those  my  fellow-men 
Whose  hapless  lot  in  life  is  to  be  slaves. 
True,  all  the  sons  of  Israel  do  groan. 
Oppressed  beneath  the  heathen  yoke  of  Rome; 
Yet  in  his  own  house  each  of  them  is  free; 
But  you,  my  friends,  not  even  home  is  yours ! 

Alexander. 

A  heathen  house,  and  not  for  naught,  I  know, 
Come  you  to  such  a  house  at  such  an  hour. 
The  sun's  rays,  lady,  soon  will  gild  the  dawn; 
Already  in  the  Temple  of  the  Lord, 
Above  the  altar  rise  to  Heaven  in  clouds 
The  heavy  wreaths  of  incense  from  sweet  herbs, 


Sc.  Ill]        THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  49 

And  sacred  smoke  of  day's  first  sacrifice. 
A  moment,  and  the  Levite's  brazen  trump 
Will  sound  to  usher  in  the  solemn  day 
When  with  unleavened  bread,  the  Paschal  lamb, 
And  bitter  herbs  we  seek  to  keep  in  mind 
The  day  when  out  of  Egypt  we  escaped. 
On  this  great  day  behoves  us  all  beware 
Defilement.     How  come  you,  then,  lady,  to 
The  unbelievers'  house? 

Joanna. 

In  Galilee 
We  long  have  fallen  from  the  stricter  law ; 
In  Herod's  capital,  Tiberias, 
We  live  in  luxury  and  as  we  will, 
And  favour  more  the  heathen  ways  of  Rome 
Than  Moses'  covenant.     [The  Paschal  feast 
We  still  keep  yearly  at  Jerusalem, 
For  Tetrarch  Herod  comes  at  Passover 
To  bow  before  the  God  of  Israel.] 
I  come  because  your  mistress  sent  for  me.  .  .  . 

\_Enter  Procula  L. 


Scene  III 

Procula. 

Already  here,  Joanna!    I  am  glad 

You  made  such  haste.    Last  night  an  evil  dream 

Has  been  tormenting  me  the  whole  night  through. 


50  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  11 

I  seemed  to  wander  in  a  lone  wild  place 
Betwixt  the  twilight  and  the  dark.     Far  off 
A  faint  light  glimmered,  took  a  shape  I  know ; 
The  more  I  gazed,  the  wondrous  face  of  Jesus, 
And  softly  from  afar,  scarce  audible. 
There  reached  my  ear  a  voice  that  seemed  to  say : 
"  Come,  follow  Me !  "    With  all  my  strength  I  ran, 
[But  ever  thorns  and  stony  places  kept 
Stopping  my  path  and  tearing  my  poor  flesh; 
Yet  still  I  ran  and  cared  not  for  the  pain.] 
More  bright,  more  shining,  near,  ay  nearer,  seemed 
That  form ;  I  almost  reached  it.    There  stood  He ; 
[My  strength  nigh  failed  me,  but  I  still  pressed  on — ] 
Sudden,  before  my  feet,  a  great  abyss. 
So  deep  no  eye  could  penetrate  its  shades, 
And  in  the  gloom  below,  with  hissing  rage, 
The  frothing  waters  of  a  whirlpool  roared. 
And  from  the  other  side — 'twas  now  so  far — 
That  wondrous  figure  summoned  me  once  more. 
I  heard  again  through  all  the  din  of  waters: 
"  Come,  follow  Me!  "     In  mortal  agony. 
Like  one  distraught,  I  hover  on  the  brink 
Of  that  abyss.    I  plunge,  and  headlong  dash 
Into  the  dark,  and — wake.  .  .  . 

Leah. 

A  warning  dream ! 

Procula. 
And  thrice  last  night  that  dream  came  back  to  me ! 

[Enter   Joseph,    in   great   agitation, 

from  the  third  door  L. 


Sc.  IV]         THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  51 

Scene  IV 

Joseph. 

Obedient  to  your  wishes,  Procula, 

I  bring  you  news ;  last  night  they  seized  by  stealth 

Our  Master,  Jesus,  in  Gethsemane. 

Procula. 
My  heart,  f oretiding  ill,  did  not  deceive ! 

Joanna. 

What  would  I  give  if  I  dare  doubt  your  news! 
Our  Master  dear! 

Leah. 

And  is  there  none,  then,  found 
To  take  His  part,  not  in  all  Israel  ? 

Alexander. 

Oh,  would  I  had  the  strength  that  Samson  used ! 

So,  then,  'twas  He  whom  they  were  bearing  off 

With  them — the  crowd  that  barred  my  way  last  night ! 

Leah. 

Ah,  now  I  know  what  kind  of  crowd  it  was 
Gave  me  that  fright,  and  made  me  run  off  home  1 

[^The  sun  rises.  The  distant  sounds 
of  the  Levites'  trumpets  from 
the  Temple  are  heard  behind 
the  scenes. 


52  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  H 

Joseph. 
Be  not  afraid !  You  hear  the  Levites'  trumpets 
Hailing  the  dawn.    For  succour  let  us  pray- 
To  God  in  Heaven,  Creator  of  the  world! 
We  here  on  earth  are  helpless,  sorry  worms, 
But  He  will  lean  His  ear  unto  our  prayers, 
And  send  us  aid  and  comfort  in  our  need. 

[Joanna  and  Leah  kneel  down. 

Joseph. 
God,  who  hast  manifold  wonders 

Wrought  with  Thine  all  mighty  hand, 
Madest  the  heavens'  dread  thunders, 

Sendest  the  sun  o'er  our  land. 

God,  let  Thy  light  pour  not  only 

Like  the  bright  sun  in  our  eyes; 
But  in  our  hearts  dark  and  lonely, 

There  let  Thy  dayspring  arise! 

Joanna. 

Let  me  be  never  faint-hearted. 

Yet  be  my  soul  ever  meek, 
From  the  true  way  never  parted, 

Thy  will  alone  may  I  seek ! 

Grant  me  in  moments  of  trial 

Courage  and  strength  for  the  fight; 
Tortures  may  tempt  to  denial. 

Oh,  keep  me  true  to  the  Light ! 


Sc.   IV]         THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS 

Leah. 

Bright  the  sun's  rays  every  morning 
Thou  on  Thy  servant  dost  bend, 

Send  me,  All-loving,  none  scorning, 
Charitv,  Love  without  end! 

Thou  who  in  Heaven  hast  bidden 

Sunshine  to  come  after  rain. 
Grant  that  our  love's  secret  hidden 

Life-long  bright  joys  may  attain! 

Alexander  [kneeling'\. 

Thou  that  the  dawn-rays  art  bringing, 
Putting  night's  darkness  to  shame. 

Cleanse  our  hearts  pure  for  the  singing 
Hymns  to  the  praise  of  Thy  name  I 

Daily  we  toil  on  untiring, 

Labour  is  love  if  but  Thou 
With  Thy  sun's  warmth  life-inspiring 

All  that  we  do,  God,  endow ! 

Procula. 
Can  it  be  dawning,  all  golden, 

Can  it  be  day's  common  sun? 
Is  it  to  prayer  I'm  beholden? 

Why  do  my  eyes  overrun? 

Flows  through  my  veins  some  soft  wonder 
Leaps  up  my  heart  at  the  prayer; 


lAll  rise. 


54  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  II 

Heaven  is  from  earth  far  asunder, 
Can  our  petitions  reach  there ! 


Joseph  {to  Procula]. 

The  worst  hath  come  to  pass ;  last  night  to  trial 

Jesus  before  the  Sanhedrin  was  brought 

And  sentence  passed :  He  stands  condemned  to  death. 

Procula. 
So  that  is  what  it  meant,  my  horrid  dream! 

Joseph. 

This  morning  once  again  the  Sanhedrin 
At  sunrise  met.    Our  law  indeed  demands 
That  twice  twelve  hours  elapse  before  confirming 
Sentence  of  death;  but  these  His  judges  found 
That  term  too  long  to  wait.  This  very  day 
Before  the  feast  begins  they  mean  to  make 
His  death  a  certainty.    There  is  no  doubt 
They'll  pass  the  sentence  formally  again. 

Procula. 

Ah,  well,  we'll  see  about  this  Sanhedrin ! 
Imperial  Rome  was  never  wont  to  pass 
Sentence  of  death  upon  the  innocent. 
Yet  is  my  heart  a  whirl  of  anxious  fears.  ... 

[Enter  Pilate  from  the  second  door. 


Sc.  VJ  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  55 

Scene  V 

Pilate. 
This  heathen  house  does  not,  it  seems,  this  time 
Threaten  defilement ;  though  it  be  the  day 
Of  solemn  feast,  you  visit  Procula? 

Joseph. 
One  law,  'tis  true,  I  violate  perforce 
But  to  obey  another,  higher  law. 
The  ever-living  God  hath  given  this 
Commandment :  Love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself ! 
And  'tis  that  love  hath  brought  me  here  to-day. 
I  came  to  warn  the  lady  Procula 
That  the  great  Sanhedrin,  with  envy  blind 
And  wicked  wrong,  have  dared  condemn  to  death — 
A  felon's  death — an  Innocent,  whom  they 
This  morning  to  your  judgment  seat  will  bring. 

Pilate. 
Who  is  it,  then? 

Joseph. 

Not  once  nor  twice,  I  trow, 
His  name  hath  reached  your  ears,  for  it  is  Jesus! 

Procula. 
Of  course,  I  know,  you  never  will  confirm 


56  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  H 

Their  sentence,  Pilate;  Rome  does  not  condemn 
The  innocent ! 

[Enter   by   the  second  door  R.   the 
Centurion. 


Scene  VI 

Centurion, 

The  Prefect  is  arrived 
From  Csesarea,  just  appointed  to 
The  cohort  here.    Two  tribunes  of  the  legions 
Are  come  with  him  but  recently  from  Rome, 
And  now  detailed  for  service  in  Judaea; 
All  three  beg  to  report  themselves  to  you. 

Joseph  \_to  Joanna]. 
Our  duty  to  our  neighbour  now  is  done; 
There  is  naught  more  to  do.     Come,  then,  Joanna ! 

Joanna. 

Yes,  yes,  I  must  get  back ;  my  husband  waits 
At  the  Palace  of  the  Maccabees,  and  here 
We  can  be  spared.    Farewell! 

Procula. 

And  come  again! 
[Exeunt  Joseph  and  Joanna  hy  the 
third  door  L.,  Alexander  and 
Leah  after  them.  Exit  Procula, 
L.,  to  her  own  apartments. 


Sc.  VII]       THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  5; 

Scene  VII 

Pilate. 

Show  in  the  Prefect  and  the  Tribunes  here! 

Centurion,  my  comrade  true  of  old, 

You  know  well  how  I  hate  these  popinjays ! 

These  insolent  and  haughty  Senators, 

These  golden  youth,  Dame  Fortune's  petted  babes! 

Luck  comes  their  way  without  an  effort  made; 

We  poor  equestrians  lag  far  behind 

Those  great  ones ;  we  must  toil  and  sweat  to  win 

Our  service  rank,  our  honours  and  rewards! 

Thou  knowest  well,  old  comrade  of  the  wars. 

How  hard  it  is  to  force  the  way  to  power ! 

Hast  not  forgot  how  we  two  long  ago 

Entered  Imperial  Rome  in  our  young  days 

To  join  the  ranks  of  the  Praetorian  Guard.  .  .  . 

Centurion. 

Commanded  by  Sejanus,  Caesar's  friend, 

The  favourite  of  the  day,  who  noted  thee.  .  .  . 

Pilate. 

He  was  equestrian,  too,  like  me,  and  so 
He  kept  a  favouring  eye  on  my  career. 

Centurion. 
Promoted  you  to  Tribune.  .  .  . 


58  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  U 

Pilate. 

And  soon  after 
Got  me  appointed  to  the  capital 
Of  Syria,  Prefect  of  Antioch.  .  .  . 

Centurion. 

Aye,  you  were  marked;  many  a  time  and  oft 
Under  the  great  Sejanus'  eyes  you  came. 
But  me  Dame  Fortune  gave  the  go-by;  I 
Must  live  and  die  a  mere  centurion ! 

[Behind  the  scenes,  R.,  the  noise  of 
an  approaching  crowd  is  heard, 
at  first  faintly  and  far  off,  then 
growing  ever  louder  and  nearer. 

Pilate. 

Well,  don't  despond,  old  soldier !    I  will  try 

To  put  a  word  in  for  you  with  Sejanus ; 

Patience  and  time,  and  you'll  be  someone  too.  .  .  . 

[Enter  Procula. 

Scene  VIII 

Procula. 
What  means  that  din  ? 

Pilate. 

Just  see.  Centurion! 
[Exit  Centurion  by  second  door  K. 
He  admits  the  Prefect  and  two 
Tribunes. 


Sc.  X]        '  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  59 

Scene  IX 

Pilate. 

So,  safe  arrived,  and  welcome,  soldiers,  welcome! 
When  left  to  Rome? 

Prefect. 

From  Puteoli  we  sailed ; 
A  fine  big  ship  of  Alexandria 
To  Egypt  brought  us  in  a  short  two  weeks. 
And  Neptune  all  the  way  was  wondrous  kind. 
Both  then  and  after;  like  a  sheet  of  blue 
The  ocean  lay,  so  tranquil  and  so  still, 
Just  twinkling  in  the  golden  rays  of  Spring. 
With  bursting  cheeks  blew  ^olus  our  way — 
Some  twenty  days  in  all  to  Csesarea.  .  .  . 

[Centurion  returns. 

Scene  X 

Centurion. 

'Tis  the  chief  priests  and  elders  of  the  Jews, 
With  all  the  Sanhedrin  assembled  here; 
To  the  Pr?etorium  they  come  and  hale 
Along  with  them  one,  Jesus,  whom  they  bring 
To  you  for  judgment.    I  could  not  persuade 
These  Jews  to  enter  here ;  a  heathen  house 
Threatens  defilement  on  their  sacred  day. 
They  beg  you  will  go  out  to  them. 


6o  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  II 

Pilate. 

Then  I 
Shall  be  defiled  for  certain  by  the  breath 
Of  these  vile,  unclean  Jews ! 

Procula. 

My  heart,  it  aches, 
My  very  soul  is  sore !    How  shall  I  bear 
That  Jesus  should  be  tried  for  crime !    Oh,  Pilate, 
Be  firm,  I  beg,  for  just  this  once,  be  firm! 

Pilate. 

Why,  surely  none  can  entertain  a  doubt 

About  my  firmness!    Why  distress  yourself? 

I  cannot  understand  what  moves  you  so ! 

Some  Jew  or  other's  brought  to  me  for  judgment; 

Should  he  be  innocent,  I  set  him  free 

At  once;  and  should  he  prove  deserving  death, 

To  death  I  order  him.    Why,  at  the  worst 

'Twill  be  but  one  accursed  Jew  the  less ! 

[To  the  Prefect  and  Trihiincs.'] 

Such  is  our  life  in  this  disgusting  land! 
These  petty  worries  make  our  daily  fare  I 
One  never  gets  a  chance  to  think  of  ease. 
Well,  duty  calls  me;  I  must  hand  you  over 
To  Procula  meantime  to  entertain. 

[Exit  Pilate  hy  second  door  R.,  the 
Centurion  after  him. 


Sc.  XI]        THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  6i 

Scene  XI 

Prefect. 

Behoves  your  guests  give  thanks  to  all  the  gods 

That  old  Severus  Csecina  so  failed 

To  pass  his  precious  law !    He  urged  the  Senate 

To  order  that  provincial  procurators 

Should  henceforth  be  prohibited  by  law 

From  taking  with  them  to  their  posts  their  wives. 

Had  that  law  passed  the  Senate,  we  had  missed 

The  graces  of  your  hospitality. 

{_Noise  of  crowd  behind  scenes. 

Procula  [absently,  listening  to  the  noisel. 
Ah,  yes,  you  are  quite  right — perhaps.    Of  course.  .  .  . 

Second  Tribune. 
Were  all  the  wives  of  procurators  such 
As  our  kind  hostess  here,  fair  Procula, 
This  gracious  lady,  why,  of  course,  Severus 
Had  never  needed  to  propose  his  law. 

Prefect. 

Aye,  but  Severus  had  in  mind  Plancina, 
The  Syrian  Viceroy,  Piso's  haughty  dame. 

[The  noise  abates. 

First  Tribune. 

Piso?    Plancina?    Were  not  they  the  ones 
Who  thirteen  years  ago  at  Antioch 


62  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  II 

Poisoned  so  cunningly  Germanicus, 

Heir  to  the  throne,  Tiberius  Caesar's  heir? 

Prefect. 
The  same,  the  same.    I  mind  me  at  the  time 
Some  ugly  rumours  ran  about  them  both. 

First  Tribune. 

Plancina — proud,  ambitious  woman— sought 
To  interfere  in  government  affairs. 
Had  quite  a  passion  for  the  barrack-yard, 
Was  seen  at  times  quite  happy  in  the  midst 
Of  throngs  of  common  soldiers  pressing  round 
Without  respect  or  manners ;  with  the  officers 
She  always  carried  on. 

[^Voices    again    heard    behind    the 
scenes,  R. 

Procula  \_with  feigned  gaietyl. 
A  pretty  tale ! 

Second  Tribune. 

Fair  ladies  love  at  times  to  break  the  bonds 
On  woman  laid  by  Nature's  wise  decree. 

First  Tribune. 
Some  in  full  armour  clad  will  go  to  fight 
Before  the  mob  with  common  gladiators.  .  .  . 

[Voices  grow  still. 


Sc.  XI]        THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  63 

Second  Tribune, 

And  others  spend  their  nights  in  orgies  wild. 
The  whole  night  through,  to  settle  wagers  made 
.With  men,  on  which  can  drink  the  most. 

First  Tribune. 

I  know 
Of  some  that  are  so  clever  at  chicane 
In  all  the  law-courts'  ways  so  skilled,  they  love 
To  plead  their  causes  for  themselves. 

Second  Tribune. 

And  then 
You  have  those  devotees  of  poetry, 
Who'll  write  you  verses,  any  quantity.  .  .  . 

Prefect. 
But  quality — that's  quite  another  thing ! 

First  Tribune. 

Take  care  you  never  go  to  dine  with  these 
She-versiclers !  you'll  sit  the  whole  time  mum; 
They  never  stop  their  chatter,  all  at  once 
And  all  about  which  is  the  greater  poet, 
Homer  or  Virgil. 

Second  Tribune. 

[Bad,  but  I  know  worse.* 
As  when  they  go  in  for  philosophy 
And  science. 


64  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  H 

First  Tribune. 
Yes,  I  once  knew  one  of  those, 
Steeped  to  the  throat  in  every  luxury, 
Had  lots  of  rolls  of  Stoic  principles 
Between  soft  silken  cushions  peeping  out! 

Second  Tribune. 
One  was,  well,  anything  but  beautiful, 
And  pretty  well  in  years  beside ;  would  have 
Plato's  "  Republic  "  read  aloud  to  her 
What  time  she  sate  at  toilet  or  at  meat.  .  .  . 
Well,  she's  just  listening  to  the  moral  parts 
Of  modesty,  restraint;  a  slave  girl  hands 
A  billet-doux,  a  foolish  line  or  two 
Scrawled  by  some  boy,  who  having  spent  his  fortune 
In  dice  and  gaming  falls  now  deep  in  love 
Not  so  much  with  the  lady's  charms,  of  course, 
As  with  her  sesterces.     The  reader  stops. 
In  haste  an  answer's  written  on  the  spot. 
Then  turning  to  her  mirror  once  again 
The  worthy  matron  listens  to  some  more 
Of  Plato's  edifying  lines.] 

First  Tribune. 

I  knew 
A  lady  once,  with  learning  bowed — and  years. 
Who  kept  a  sort  of  tame  philosopher, 
Poor  devil  of  a  Stoic,  half  in  rags. 
Well,  once  she  set  off  to  her  country  house 
And  olive  groves  at  Ostia ;  her  Stoic 


Sc.  XI]         THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  65 

With  chef  and  barber  drove  together  in 
The  last  cart  of  her  train,  in  mud  and  rain. 
The  Stoic  had  been  charged  to  bring  along 
The  old  dame's  pet,  a  Maltese  spaniel. 
So  as  they  went  the  little  beast  produced 
And  on  his  lap  a  fine  and  healthy  litter ! 

Procula. 

You  draw  a  picture  of  my  sex  at  Rome 

Too  sad,  too  pitiful !     It  cannot  be 

That  all  are  shameless,  all  ridiculous, 

All  vile!    No,  not  extinguished  quite  the  sparks 

J'hat  fire  brave  virtuous  hearts  to  noble  deeds ! 

[_Noise  of  the  croivd  again. 

Prefect. 

An  age  of  fallen  morals,  greedy   ust 
Of  gain,  an  age  of  grasping  and  corruption, 
When  humbly  low  we  bend  our  supple  backs 
To  those  in  place  and  power,  as  we  turn 
Those  same  backs  stiffly  on  the  weak  and  poor; 
When  all  life's  task,  its  only  aim,  is  found 
In  dirty  profit,  heaping  up  of  gold — 
An  age  like  ours  to  mother  noble  deeds ! 

[The  noise  behind  the  scenes  in- 
creases. The  crozvd  is  heard  de- 
parting. The  voices  gradually 
retire  and  are  silent. 


66  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  II 

Procula  ^constrained  and  absent}. 
Too  true!    [Aside.']    The  crowd  is  going.     [To  the  Pre- 
fect.]   May  be  now.  .  .  . 

Prefect. 

That  glorious  age  is  gone  to  come  no  more 
When  woman  had  with  man  her  equal  share 
Of  hero's  courage,  when  her  virtue  grew 
Deep-rooted  in  nobility  of  soul! 
This  age  is  breeding  petty  piddling  folk, 
And  all  our  world  is  falling  to  decay ! 

[Enter  Pilate  and  Centurion. 


Scene  XII 

Pilate  [with  a  relieved  sigh]. 
A-a-ah!  a  bloody  battle  all  day  long 
Against  the  Germans  is  a  trifle  to 
One  half-hour's  arguing  with  this  Jew  crowd! 

Procula. 
Oh,  tell  us  all  that  happened,  Pilate,  all : 
What  was  it  all  about  ?    I'm  burning  with 
Impatience. 

Pilate. 

Hear,  then :  out  I  go  to  them, 
And  on  the  lithostroton  take  my  stand; 
Below  me  in  the  court  a  noisy  crowd, 
Led  by  chief  priests  and  scribes  and  members  of 


Sc.  XII]       THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  dy^ 

The  Sanhedrin — a  mob  of  Jews — and  up 

The  marble  steps  toward  me  comes  the  guard 

Leading  a  prionser  in  wretched  guise. 

The  Man  stood  there  before  me,  shoeless,  ragged, 

A  beggar ;  yet  with  all  His  misery 

He  had  that  air  of  majesty,  as  'twere 

In  beggar's  filthy  rags  a  King  disguised. 

He  was  not  like  a  Jew :  'tis  hard  to  say 

What  like  He  was,  but — unlike  other  men. 

With  dignity  and  calm,  so  tranquil  stood, 

Not  timid  neither,  not  a  trace  of  fear, 

But  thoughtfully  and  straight  into  my  eyes 

He  gazed.    And  that  stern  look,  I  seem  to  feel. 

Pursues  me  still ;  which  way  soe'er  I  turn 

I  still  see  naught  but  those  accusing  eyes. 

Procula. 
His  yes !  in  truth,  who  could  forget  those  eyes ! 

Prefect. 
I  have  not  seen  Him,  but  from  all  I  hear 
About  the  Man,  He's  such  as  must  ere  long, 
It  seems  to  me,  revive  in  our  dead  hearts 
The  long-lost  faith  in  Zeus,  Apollo,  and 
In  Hermes,  once  more  come  upon  the  earth 
In  lowliest  disguise — a  beggar  Jew. 

Pilate. 

The  noise  down  there  grew  ever  angrier, 

And  from  all  sides  more  savagely  they  howled, 

The  mob  increased,  and  [then  I  caught  one  cry : 


68  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  II 

"  He  dares  to  say  that  He  is  Christ,  a  King! 
He  is  perverting  all  onr  folk !  forbids 
Us  pay  our  lawful  tribute  unto  Caesar! " 

Procula. 

The  liars,  slanderers,  and  hypocrites ! 

Their  wily  scribes — 'twas  not  a  week  ago — 

Set  Him  most  craftily  that  very  test : 

"  Is't  lawful  we  give  tribute  unto  Caesar?  " 

He  put  them  all  to  shame  by  answering : 

"  Render  unto  Caesar  the  things  that  are  Caesar's, 

And  unto  God  the  things  that  are  God's !  "        'Twas 

Joseph 
Who  told  me  of  it.]    What  came  after  that? 

Pilate. 

What  came  after  that?  now,  how  can  I, 
As  you  or  your  Joanna  does,  or  Joseph, 
Mark  and  remember  every  word  He  speaks? 
Think  you  I  have  naught  else  to  do?     I'm  busy 
With  matters  more  important! — For  the  rest 
Let  the  Centurion  tell. 

Centurion. 

You  went  in,  then, 
To  the  Praetorium.     I  brought  to  you. 
As  you  commanded,  Jesus,  quite  alone. 
Without  a  guard.    You  asked  Him  first  was  He 
King  of  the  Jews.    Instead  of  answering. 
He  asked:   "  Sayest  thou  this  of  thyself  or  others 


Sc.  XII]       THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  69 

Did  tell  it  thee  of  Me?  "— [''  Am  I  a  Jew?" 
You  said:  "  'Twas  Thine  own  nation  and  chief  priests 
Delivered  Thee  to  me !    What  hast  Thou  done  ?  " 
And  then  He  spake.  .  .  .] 

Pilate. 

Ah,  yes,  I  mind  me  now : 
He  told  me  that  His  kingdom  was  not  of 
This  world.    For  Caesar,  therefore,  and  for  Rome 
His  kingship  matters  not  at  all ! 

Procula. 

Go  on! 

Centurion. 

That  if  His  kingdom  were  of  this  world,  then 
His  servants  would  be  fighting  for  Him,  and 
He  never  would  have  been  delivered  to 
The  Jews. 

Prefect. 

A  subtle  argument  is  that 
To  come  from  lips,  as  He  pretends,  divine ! 

Pilate. 

He  told  me  that  to  this  end  He'd  been  born, 

And  come  into  the  world  that  He — He — should.  .  .  . 

Centurion. 

Bear  witness.  .  .  . 

Pilate. 

Aye,  just  so,  that  He  should  bear 
Witness  unto  the  Truth.    What  truth  I  know  not : 


70  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  H 

I  could  not  guess  His  meaning,  dark  it  seemed 
And  full  of  mystery. 

Procula  [to  the  Centurion]. 

Can  you  recall, 
Centurion,  what  further  words  He  spake  ? 

Centurion. 

He  said  that  every  one  that  of  the  Truth  is 
Heareth  His  voice. 

Procula. 

The  Truth!    I  do  believe 
He  will  disclose  the  Truth,  will  teach  it  us 
And  give  this  wicked  world  new  life  again! 

Prefect. 

Loud-sounding,  empty  words!    I  have  no  faith 

In  any  of  these  dreamers :  they  abound 

In  these  late  days  all  up  and  down  the  world. 

And  each  has  some  new  doctrine  of  his  own 

On  life  and  death,  creation's  mysteries, 

And  what  our  souls  will  be  beyond  the  grave; 

But  ne'er  a  one  of  them  can  send  a  ray 

Of  knowledge  through  the  gloom  enshrouding  us. 

Their  doctrines  end  for  us  in  nothing  more 

Than  dust,  corruption,  or  blank  nullity ! 

Pilate. 

Aye,  what  is  Truth  ? — I  went  out  then  again 
And  told  the  people  that  I  found  no  crime 


Sc.  XIII]     THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  71 

In  Him  whom  thy  accused.     But  they  cried  out 

More  vehemently,  He  was  stirring  up 

The  people,  teaching  everywhere  through  Jewry 

From  Galilee  unto  Jerusalem. 

And  then  it  was  there  came  into  my  mind 

A  bright  idea — I  would  send  Him  to 

The  Tetrarch  as  He  comes  from  Galilee. 

Herod  and  I  have  been  at  enmity; 

I  seized  a  chance  of  making  friends. 

Centurion  [fo  Procula]. 

The  crovwi 
Haled  Jesus  with  them  to  the  Palace  of 
The  Maccabees,  to  Herod. 

Pilate. 

I  rejoiced 
To  find  such  easy  means  to  rid  me  of 
The  hateful  task  of  sentencing  this  Jesus. 
So,  Procula,  permit  me,  I  must  beg 
You  leave  us  now ;  'tis  not  befitting  ladies 
Be  present  when  State  matters  are  discussed ! 

\_Exeiint,  Procula,  L.,  the  Centu- 
rion by  the  second  door  R. 

Scene  XIII 

Pilate. 
Well,  soldiers,  I  can  scarce  congratulate 
You  honestly  on  service  in  Judaea. 


72  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  II 

A  stubborn  folk,  revengeful,  turbulent, 
And  given  to  strifes,  seditions  and  intrigues. 

Prefect. 

But,  surely,  every  nation's  qualities 
Are  good  and  bad  together.     'Tis  for  us 
To  squeeze  advantage  from  the  first:  the  rest 
Adroitly,  and  with  patience,  to  suppress. 

Pilate. 

In  the  score  years  before  I  came  to  rule 

Four  Procurators  here  had  let  the  folk 

Get  out  of  hand.     Full  freedom  they  enjoy; 

Hold  service  in  the  Temple  to  their  God; 

No  Jews  are  called  to  serve  as  soldiers  here; 

The  Jew  abhors  all  graven  images 

Of  aught  that  hath  the  breath  of  life,  and  this 

Imperial  Rome  with  weak  indulgence  suffers, 

And  to  this  day  Jerusalem  is  still 

With  statues  of  the  Ccxsars  unadorned. 

First  Tribune. 

True,  I  have  seen  here  not  a  single  one. 
Not  Julius,  Augustus,  no,  not  even 
The  godlike  figure  of  our  sovereign  lord, 
Tiberius — whom  Jupiter  defend ! 

Prefect. 
Our  sovereign  lord,  in  all  his  conquests  made 
On  alien  nations,  shows  wide  tolerance, 


Sc.  XIII]     THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  73 

And  to  this  day  leaves  everywhere  untouched 
Their  customs  and  religious  practices. 

Pilate. 
On  my  appointment  here  I  could  not  bear 
Such  foul  disgrace,  and,  seizing  on  the  helm 
Of  power  with  determined  hand,  I  bade 
Bring  secretly  by  night  from  Caesarea, 
To  deck  the  barracks  in  Jerusalem, 
The  standards  of  the  cohorts  of  the  guard, 
Whose  mark  of  honour  is  the  sacred  figure 
Of  our  divine  Tiberius. 

Prefect. 

A  bold 
And  risky  step  to  take !    Accept  my  best 
Congratulations  on  such  firmness,  such 
Heroic  courage  in  a  ruler ! 

Pilate. 

When 
The  Jews  next  morn  at  daybreak  came  and  saw 
The  symbols  showing  through  the  battlements — 
[They  overlook  the  open  space  where  smokes 
The  sacrificial  altar  of  the  Temple — 
A  multitude  set  out  for  Caesarea, 
Weeping  and  wailing  went  they  all  the  way ! 
For  five  long  days  and  nights,  most  stubbornly, 
They  kept  me  in  my  Palace  here  besieged. 
At  last  I  had  them  herded  to  the  Circus. 


74  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  H 

But  there  the  loud  complaints  grew  doubly  loud — 

I  gave  a  sign  and  sudden  flashed  the  swords, 

And  when  my  soldiers  drew  the  cordon  round 

The  whole  crowd  fell  to  earth  and  bared  their  necks,] 

And  cried  aloud  that  they  would  rather  die 

Than  see  their  law  held  up  to  mockery. 

Prefect. 
The  Procurator,  one  can  hardly  doubt, 
Enforced  his  will? 

Pilate  [somewhat  confused^. 
I  could  not  let  it  come 
To  actual  bloodshed  ...  so  I  had  the  standards 
Of  the  cohorts  here  returned  to  Caesarea. 
But  ever  since  the  very  name  of  Jew 
Is  hateful  to  me ! 

Second  Tribune. 

Rome  herself  is  not 
Too  fond  of  Jewry  either;  years  ago. 
Ten  years  or  more,  I  well  remember  how 
The  Jews,  four  thousand  odd,  were  forcibly 
Expelled  from  Rome. 

Pilate. 

Divine  Tiberius 
That  measure  took  by  the  advice  of  great 
Sejanus,  who  could  never  brook  the  Jews. 
That  able  ruler,  yElius  Sejanus, 
In  his  wise  foresight,  gave  me  orders  too, 
In  sending  me  to  govern  in  Judaea, 


Sc.  XIII]     THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  75 

That  I  should  use  all  strictness  with  these  Jews. 

And  now  the  shields  of  beaten  gold,  whereon 

The  name  august,  divine  Tiberius 

Is  graved,  I've  had  before  the  Palace  here 

Displayed. 

Prefect. 
Ah,  yes,  I  saw  them  from  the  court 
As  I  came  in :  the  marble  balusters 
Are  hung  with  them  before  your  judgment-seat. 

Pilate. 
What  news  from  Rome?    What  of  the  Caesar's  health? 

Prefect. 
He's  getting  old. 

First  Tribune. 
He's  in  the  eighties  now. 

Second  Tribune. 

And  suffers  still  from  that  foul  skin  disease : 
Plaisters  put  on  his  face  turn  straightway  black. 

First  Tribune. 
'Tis  many  years  since  he  was  seen  at  Rome. 

Second  Tribune. 
On  Capri's  isle  the  royal  anchorite 
Drags  out  the  sorry  remnant  of  his  days. 

First  Tribune. 
There  in  his  parks  and  pleasaunces,  I  trow, 
Not  many  now  have  leave  to  come  at  him. 


76  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  H 

Second  Tribune. 

From  shady  porticoes  and  colonnades, 
And  flower  gardens  on  the  craggy  cliffs, 
He  looks  forth  on  the  blue  expanse  of  sea. 
Admires  the  view  of  near  Vesuvius. 

Prefect. 

He's  gone  quite  bald  and  stoops.    And  since  the  day 
Sejanus  died.  .  .  . 

Pilate. 
What's  that?    Sejanus  dead? 

Prefect. 

Surely  the  news  by  now  has  reached  you  here, 
How  suddenly,  how  terribly,  he  died? 

First  Tribune. 

Tiberius,  by  letter  to  the  Senate, 
Charged  him  with  treason  to  the  State. 


Prefect. 


Sejanus 


Was  tried. 


First  Tribune. 
And  executed  that  same  day ! 


Second  Tribune. 
His  statue  that  before  the  theatre  stood, 
Dragged  from  its  place  by  ropes  about  the  neck, 
Was  smashed  by  angry  crowds.  .  .  . 


Sc.  XIV]     THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  yj 

First  Tribune. 

Sejaniis'  corpse 
All  mangled,  by  a  gloating  mob  was  trailed 
Three  days  about  the  public  streets ! 

Pilate. 

Ye  gods ! 
Sejanus  gone!    Sejanus  dead!     My  patron! 
What  awful  news  you  bring!    To  whom  shall  I 
Look  up  for  aid,  support,  protection,  now 
In  my  career  ?  .  .  . 

\Enter  Alexander  jrom  second 
door  R. 

Scene  XIV 

Alexander. 

The  Syrian  Legate  of 
The  Caesar,  ^lius  Lamia,  has  sent 
By  courier  from  Capri  this  despatch. 

[Hands  Pilate  a  wax-smeared  tab- 
let on  which  the  despatch  is 
written. 

Prefect  [fo  the  Tribunes']. 

Come,  friends,  we'll  go.     If  ^lius  Lamia  sends 
The  message,  doubtless,  is  of  consequence. 
We  will  not  keep  the  Procurator  longer. 

{^Exeunt  all  save  Pilate  by  second 
door  R. 


yS  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  II 


Scene  XV 

Pilate  [^reading  despatch^. 

"  The  time  is  passed  when,  by  the  whisperings  of  Se- 
janus,  the  Jews  were  in  disgrace  with  the  Caesar.  Now 
they  are  restored  to  the  favour  of  our  sovereign  lord, 
A  complaint  has  been  received  at  Capri  from  the  citi- 
zens of  Jerusalem  to  the  effect  that  the  Procurator  of 
Judaea,  in  contempt  of  their  laws  and  religious  beliefs, 
has  displayed  before  his  palace  shields  of  gold  dedicated 
to  the  Caesar.  The  Most  August  has  ordered  me  to 
transmit  to  you  the  expression  of  his  anger,  and  de- 
mands that  the  shields  be  returned  to  Caesarea  and  de- 
posited in  the  Temple  of  Augustus." 

[Breaks  the  tablet  into  little  pieces. 

Nay,  were  Sejanus,  my  good  friend,  alive 

My  foe,  this  Lamia,  had  never  dared, 

In  sending  on  Tiberius'  order. 

To  write  me  words  like  these !    The  storm  is  come ; 

Like  lightning  from  a  smiling  summer  sky 

The  news  of  great  Sejanus'  ruin  strikes; 

So  now  on  me  the  Master  of  the  world 

In  glowing  wrath  will  launch  his  thunderbolt. 

Where  can  one  safety  find,  or  whither  flee? 

There's  not  a  cranny  in  this  world,  not  one, 

So  small,  obscure,  far  off  or  hid  from  sight. 

Whence  that  ill-boding  dotard,  bald  and  bent, 


5c.  XVI]     THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  79 

From  the  high  stronghold  of  his  Capri  isle, 
With  palsied,  wrinkled  hand,  so  mighty  yet, 
Would  fail  to  pluck  me  forth  and  crush  to  death ! 
There's  no  escape  from  that  all-seeing  eye. 
No  more  than  from  the  bolt  of  Heaven's  rage ! 
'Twere  better,  therefore,  better,  and  more  sure 
To  yield,  a  victim  to  the  monster's  power, 
And  let.  .  .  . 

\_Bchiiid  the  scenes  R.  the  noise  of 
an  approaching  crowd. 

Again  that  clamour  and  those  voices! 
No  doubt  the  crowd  of  Jews  are  now  returned 
From  Herod,  bringing  Jesus  back.    Whate'er 
The  Tetrarch's  judgment  on  His  case  may  be, 
I'll  vindicate  the  law.    He's  innocent. 
There's  not  a  doubt  of  that.    Jesus  goes  free. 
I'll  give  the  Caesar  proof  he  has  in  me 
An  upright  judge,  a  ruler  without  fear 
Or  favour,  firmness'  self,  for  his  Viceroy ! 

\_Exit  by  second  door  R. 

Scene  XVI 

Enter  Procula,  Alexander  and  Leah,  L.,  and  Joanna 
from  the  third  door  L. 

Procula  \to  Joanna]. 

At  last,  at  last !    How  I  have  waited  you ! 

You  hear,  Joanna,  in  the  courtyard  there, 

The  Jewish  mob  is  clamouring  again. 

You  come,  of  course,  from  Herod's,  you  were  there? 


8o  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  ZI 

Joanna. 
Yes,  Procula,  I  was. 

l^Noise  behind  the  scenes  abates. 

Procula.  | 

What  happened?    Tell 
Me  quick ! 

Joanna. 

The  Tetrarch  of  a  long  time  was 
Desirous  to  see  Jesus.  .  .  . 

Procula. 

That  will  keep; 
You'll  tell  me  afterwards;  but  now,  oh  quick, 
Torment  me  not,  but  tell  what  Herod  did. 

Joanna. 

He  ordered  Jesus  to  be  taken  back 
Again  to  Pilate. 

Procula. 
So,  then,  Pilate  still 
Holds  in  his  hand  the  life  and  death  of  Jesus?, 

Joanna. 

It  is  so,  Procula.    Your  husband  now 
Must  pass  the  final  judgment. 

Procula. 

No,  I  cannot 
Endure  this  longer,  torn  with  doubts  and  tortured 
With  knowing  naught  of  how  the  trial  goes! 


Sc.  XVI]     THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  8i 

To  the  Prsetorium — your  master,  quick! 
Run,  Alexander,  and  find  out.     No,  stay! 
Tell  him — you  know ! — my  dream.    You'll  say  to 
him  .... 

Alexander. 
I  wait  your  orders,  madam. 

Procula. 

Yes,  you'll  say — 
You'll  tell  the  Procurator  not  to  dare.  .  .  . 
That  he  do  nothing  to — ^you  understand — 
To  that  just  Man — do  nothing,  mind.    Ye  gods ! 
I  tremble,  how  I  tremble !    Say  that  this  day 
I've  suffered  many  things  because  of  Him 
In  a  dream.  .  .  .  Go,  Alexander,  and  make  haste.  .  .  . 


Alexander. 


I  run,  I  run ! 


Procula. 

But,  hold !    Be  not  too  long ; 
You'll  not  stay  there;  I  must  know  something  soon. 
Or  I  shall  faint.    Be  quick  then  back  again. 
Or  else  send  hither  the  Centurion, 
Or  anyone,  no  matter  whom,  that  we  may  know 
About  this  trial.  .  .  . 

Alexander. 

Madam,  it  shall  be  done ! 
{^Exit  Alexander  by  second  door  R. 


82  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  II 


Scene  XVII 

Procula. 
Your  pardon,  good  Joanna,  that  1  broke 
Your  orderly  narration ;  but  you  see 
Yourself  the  state  I'm  in!    Herod,  you  said, 
Of  a  long  time  was  desirous  to  see  Jesus. 
Now,  tell  what  happened  in  the  Palace  of 
The  Maccabees.    You  heard  it  all  ? 

Joanna. 

Be  calm, 
Control  yourself!    Herod  acquitted  Jesus. 
[Your  husband,  too,  without  a  doubt,  will  never 
Condemn  Him ;  so  be  calm,  and  I  will  tell 
All  that  I  saw  there !    Well,  the  Tetrarch  sat 
Majestic  in  the  Hall  of  Columns  throned, 
All  perfumed  and  in  gorgeous  rich  array 
Of  purple,  cloth  of  gold  and  byssus  lawn; 
From  many  censers  round  him  rose  in  whorls 
Sweet-smelling  incense  smoke.    Between  the  columns 
The  marble  statues  of  the  gods  shone  white; 
Egyptian  slave-girls,  rarely  beautiful. 
With  soft  and  slumbrous  motion  waved  huge  fans 
O'er  Herod's  royal  head.     Into  this  place. 
The  lazy  haunt  of  luxury  and  vice. 
Was  brought  our  Master,  Jesus ! 

Procula. 

Well,  and  then? 


Sc.  XVII]     THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  83 

Joanna. 

The  chief  priests  of  the  Jews  took  turn  about 

To  bring  against  the  Christ  false  accusations ; 

With  blasphemy  they  charged  Him,  sacrilege, 

Sedition  'gainst  authority,  and  said 

That  He  had  publicly  declared  Himself 

A  king — said  boldly  He  was  King  of  the  Jews. 

Procula. 
And  what  said  Herod? 

Joanna. 

Scarce  attended  to 
The  Pharisees'  false  charges,  seemed  to  care 
No  whit  for  all  the  foaming,  hissing  rage 
Of  those  false  serpents.     But  himself  he  put 
To  Jesus  questions,  and  his  promise  passed 
To  give  Him  back  His  freedom  if  he  worked 
A  miracle  before  him.     To  all  this 
Our  Master  not  a  word  in  answer  gave.] 

\_Rencwcd   outburst   of   clamour   be- 
hind the  scenes. 

Voice  of  the  Crowd. 
Barabbas !    No,  not  this  Man,  but  Barabbas ! 

Procula. 
What  is  it  they  are  shouting  there  ? 

Leah. 

I  seemed 

To  catch  some  words.  .  .  . 


84  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  II 

Joanna. 

What,  Leah? 

Procula. 

Tell  us,  quick ! 

Leah. 

It  seemed  to  me  I  could  make  out  the  name 
Barabbas,  but  .... 

Procula. 

Who  is  Barabbas,  then? 
[Voices  of  crowd  louder  and  more 
vehement. 
Those  cries,  the  plaining  of  a  savage  mob. 
They  stab  my  ears  like  pitiless  keen  knives ! 

Leah. 
Barabbas  is,  they  say,  a  robber.  .  .  . 

Joanna. 

Ah, 

Now  I  remember.    Not  so  long  ago, 
Sedition,  murder  in  the  city,  yes  ? 

Leah. 
Yes,  'tis  the  murderer,  who  now,  I've  heard, 
Lies  bound  in  prison  for  his  crimes. 

Procula. 

But  why 

Shout  his  name,  then? 

[Voices,  up  to  this  point  rising  ever 
louder,  now  begin  to  abate. 


Sc.  XVIII]     THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  85 

Leah. 
I  cannot  make  it  out ! 

Procula. 
[Go  on,  now,  good  Joanna,  with  your  story. 

Joanna. 

So  Herod,  glad  to  gratify  his  spite, 
Made  cruel  sport  of  Jesus,  mocking  Him; 
And  all  his  courtiers  each  with  other  vied 
In  finding  still  new  japes  and  jests  to  play. 

Procula. 
How  base  and  vile ! 

Joanna. 
So  having  set  at  naught, 
And  mocked  and  made  his  sport  of  Him,  at  last 
Herod  gave  orders  to  his  men  of  war 
They  should  array  the  prisoner  in  white 
And  shining  robes,  in  token  that  in  Him 
The  Tetrarch  found  no  guilt  deserving  death.] 


Scene  XVIII 

\_Enter  Prefect  by  second  door  i^.] 

Prefect. 

I  crave  your  pardon,  lady ;  it  may  be 
I  come  untimely,  but  my  heart  divined 


86  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  II 

Your  thirst  for  news  from  the  Prsetorium. 

'Tis  m  my  mind  this  prisoner  is  one 

Whose  fate  hath  deeply  stirred  your  sympathies: 

You  see  in  Him  a  Teacher,  Man  of  God.  .  .  . 

I  must  say  frankly  that  your  faith  in  Jesus 

Is  such  a  feeling  as  I  cannot  share ; 

But  for  your  agitation  and  alarm 

Believe,  that  from  my  soul  I  pity  you! 

Procula. 
I  thank  you ;  from  my  heart  I  thank  our  gues? 
For  his  kind  thoughtfulness.    And  you  divine 
My  wishes  rightly.    But,  Joanna,  you 
Must  know  our  honoured  guest ;  it  is  the  new 
Prefect  from  Caesarea.     Now,  please  tell 
Us  all  that  you  were  witness  of  out  there. 

^Shouts  of  crowd  again  heard  behind 
the  scenes. 

Prefect. 

Your  husband,  sitting  in  the  judgment-seat, 
Raised  high  above  the  crowd,  made  to  these  Jews 
A  speech  to  this  effect :    "  You  say,  you  Jews, 
That  this  Man  you  accuse  is  seeking  to 
Pervert  your  nation.    But  that  charge  I  tried 
Before  you  all.    I  found  that  Jesus  was 
Not  guilty  of  the  crimes  that  you  were  pleased 
To  charge  Him  with.     He's  innocent.     And  so, 
Since  you  demand  some  punishment,  Fll  have 
Him  punished  first,  and  then  He  shall  go  free." 


Sc.  XVIII]     THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  87 

Procula. 

You  say — oh,  no ;  you  cannot  mean  he'd  have 
Him  punished  first? 

Joanna. 

And  why,  then,  punish  Him 
If  once  he's  found  there  is  no  fault  in  Him? 

Prefect. 

I  only  can  repeat  what  I  did  hear ! 
And  so,  indeed,  the  Procurator  said. 

Procula. 

Stop!    Let  me  understand.    If  the  accused 
Is  not  found  guilty  by  the  court,  how  can 
He  suffer  punishment? 

Prefect. 

I,  lady,  am 
Subordinate.    Your  husband  is  my  chief. 
'Twould  ill  become  my  place  to  blame  or  praise ! 

Procula. 

Forget  the  Procurator,  and  tell  me! 

I  want  to  know  what  you  think,  can  it  be 

The  innocent  should  suffer  punishment? 

Prefect. 

Pray  note  it  was  to  please  the  mob  he  gave 
Sentence  for  Jesus'  punishment. 

Procula. 

Just  so; 


88  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  JI 

Trifle  with  conscience,  yield  to  show  of  strength — 
Why,  that  is  weak  and  cowardly,  and  mean ! 
Well,  well,  speak  on :  what  must  we  further  hear  ? 

Prefect, 

Just  then  the  Procurator  called  to  mind 

A  custom  that  of  old  the  Jews  have  here, 

At  Eastertide  one  of  their  prisoners, 

What  man  soe'er  the  people  name,  goes  free, 

His  crime  condoned.     [And  so  he  said  to  them : 

"  How  will  ye,  shall  I  for  this  feast  release 

This  Jesus,  King  of  the  Jews?  "    The  crowd  drew  back 

Dissatisfied ;  I  saw  them  taking  counsel 

With  scribes  and  elders,  Pharisees.]     'Twas  then 

The  slave  whom  you  had  sent  came  running  in. 

I  heard  him  speak  to  Pilate,  and  he  told 

Of  your  anxiety,  the  fright  you  had 

About  a  dream.    With  pity  overwhelmed 

And  full  of  sympathy  for  you  I  longed 

To  bring  you  hope,  aid,  comfort  at  the  least ! 

Then  cried  the  mob,  demanding  Pilate  should 

Release  to  them  some  robber  named  Barabbas. 

Procula. 
Ah,  now  we  know  the  meaning  of  that  cry! 

Prefect. 

So  with  this  news  I  hastened  to  you  here. 

[Enter  Alexander  hy  second  door 
R.,  running  with  pale,  agonised 
face. 


Sc.  XIX]      THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  89 

Scene  XIX 

Alexander. 
That  I  should  live  to  see  .  .  . 

Procula,  Joanna,  Leah. 

What  is  it?    Speak! 

Alexander. 

Our  ruler  raised  his  voice  above  the  din, 

He  sought  a  means  to  set  the  Master  free; 

They  cried  out :  "  Crucify  Him !    Crucify  Him!  " 

Procula. 
A  felon's  death  I 

Joanna. 
To  crucify  the  Christ! 

Leah. 
Oh,  woe,  woe  to  Jerusalem ! 

Prefect. 

[And  then? 

Alexander. 
He  asked  the  crowd :  "  What  evil  hath  He  done?  " 
But  they  cried  out  more  vehemently  still ; 
Their  shouting  bore  him  down.]     The  Procurator 
Delivered  Jesus  to  the  cohort  and 
Gave  orders  He  be  scourged. 


90  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  U 

Joanna. 

Oh,  horrible! 

Procula. 
A  burning  shame!    An  everlasting  crime! 

Leah. 
Woe  without  end !    The  Master  whom  we  love ! 

\^The    women    weep.       Cries    again 
behind  the  scenes. 

Prefect  [aside']. 

Not  bad,  I  vow,  for  this  firm,  resolute, 
Unbending,  just  and  righteous  judge  of  ours! 
Why,  half  a  cohort,  less,  had  been  enough 
To  soundly  discipline  this  harebrained  mob! 

[To  Alexander.] 
What  followed? 

Alexander. 

In  the  cohort  here  the  men 
Are  nearly  all  Samaritans  by  birth. 
And  from  of  old  Samaritans  do  hate 
Us  Jews.  .  .  . 

Procula. 
Well,  well? 

Joanna. 

Be  brief ! 


Sc.  XIX]      THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  91 

Alexander. 

They  had 
A  fine  chance  given  them  to  vent  their  spite 
Upon  the  King,  though  but  a  fancied  King, 
Of  the  Jews !    Behind  the  Palace  there  the  band 
Took  Him  and  bound  Him  naked  to  a  post 
In  the  barrack-yard.    The  scourge,  the  frightful  scourge, 
Whirling  aloft  went  whistling  through  the  air. 
Cruel  the  blows  that  fast  and  faster  fell, 
Tearing  the  flesh.  .  .  . 

Procula  \_stopping  her  ears']. 

No  more !    No  more ! 
Joanna. 

Enough ! 
Leah. 
Terrible ! 

Prefect. 

Aye,  an  awful  thing — the  scourge! 
Alexander. 

A  thorn  bush  fills  a  corner  of  the  yard. 

One  of  the  men  tore  down  a  branch  and  made 

A  plaited  wreath  of  thorns.     With  savage  joy 

They  forced  it  on  to  Jesus'  head  for  crown. 

The  thorns  on  brow  and  temple  pierced  the  flesh — 

[Along  the  crown  of  agony  there  showed 

Like  precious  stones  the  ruby  gouts  of  blood.] 

Another  flung  across  His  bleeding  back 

A  royal  robe  of  purple  worn  in  holes. 

And  put  a  reed  for  sceptre  in  His  hand. 


92  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  II 

Then  bowed  they  down  before  Him  on  the  knee; 
Then  snatched  away  the  reed,  and  with  it  smote 
His  head  and  beat  Him  most  unmercifully. 
With  mocking  jest  and  jape  they  came  to  spit 
Into  His  face  that  was  all  bleeding  now.  .  .  .. 

Procula. 

Villains ! 

Joanna. 

,The  brutal  monsters ! 

Procula. 

Run  now,  make  haste. 
To  Pilate,  Alexander,  and  return 
With  all  the  news  you  can ! 

Alexander. 

Madam,  I'm  gone ! 

[Exit,  running,  by  second  door  R., 
where  he  collides  with  the  Cen- 
turion, who  enters. 


Scene  XX 

Centurion. 
The  scourging  has  been  done.    The  Procurator 
Was  horror-struck  to  see  such  suffering. 
He  thought  the  sight — that  lacerated  flesh 
And  bleeding  wounds — would  move  the  Jews  to  pity. 


Sc.  XX]        THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  93 

So  in  His  crown  of  thorns,  with  robe  and  sceptre, 

I  led  Him  forth,  Jesus  the  Sufferer ! 

And  Pilate  said:   "Behold  Him!    Ecce  Homo!'' 

He  scarce  appeared  when  once  again  the  mob 

Cried  out  to  crucify  Him,  crucify  Him! 

Their  elders  said  they  had  a  law  among 

The  Jews,  and  by  that  law  this  Jesus  must 

Be  put  to  death,  for  that  He  had  declared 

Himself  the  Son  of  God. 

Prefect. 

Aha,  what  next! 
Not  only  "  Witness  of  the  Truth  "  is  He, 
Not  only  "  King,"  although  His  kingdom  be 
Not  of  this  world,  but  even  "  Son  of  God  " ! 
Methinks  this  Jew  is  aiming  somewhat  high ! 

Procula. 

Your  careless  words  do  sorely  wound  my  heart: 
Believe,  or  not — but  spare  me  mockery ! 

Centurion. 

Our  ruler  at  those  words  seemed  all  confused, 
Entered  the  judgment-hall  once  more  and  bade 
Me  bring  the  prisoner  again  to  him. 
The  hapless  Man,  with  all  His  misery. 
Seemed  to  inspire  a  reverent  awe  in  Pilate. 
Not  wishing  to  remain  alone  with  Him, 
Pilate  commanded  me  to  stand  beside. 
[A  tremor  shook  his  voice  in  asking  Him: 


94  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  H 

"  Whence  art  thou?  "  Jesus  gave  no  answer,  and 

Pilate  again  saith  to  Him :  "  Speakest  Thou  not 

Unto  me  ?    Knowest  Thou  not  that  I  have  power 

To  crucify  Thee,  and  have  power  to 

Release  Thee?"     Then  the  prisoner  replied: 

"  Thou  couldest  have  no  power  at  all  against  Me 

Except  'twere  given  to  thee  from  above. 

He,  therefore,  that  delivered  Me  unto 

Thee  hath  the  greater  sin !  "    After  those  words] 

Out  to  the  people  went  the  Procurator 

Again.    Permit  me,  if  I  ope  this  door 

[^Opening  the  first  door  R.    The  hum 
of  voices  is  more  audible. 

The  lithostroton  can  be  seen  from  here. 
Mark  now  how  hotly  from  his  judgment-seat 
Our  ruler  argues  with  the  mob  of  Jews. 
He  is  more  confident  just  now  than  erst, 
And  strives  more  stubbornly  to  have  his  way 
And  let  Him  go. 

[Procula    goes    up    to    the    door, 
Joanna  and  Leah  after  her. 


Scene  XXI 

Voice  of  the  Sadducee  [behind  the  scenes']. 

If  thou  release  this  Man 
Thou  art  not  Caesar's  friend! 


Sc.  XXI]      THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  95 

Voice  of  First  Pharisee. 

He  knows  it  well ! 
For  every  one  that  makes  himself  a  king 
Opposeth  Caesar! 

Joanna. 
Oh,  you  see  how  Pilate 
Starts  at  those  words !    He's  growing  pale  as  death ! 

Procula. 
What  means  the  sign  he  made  the  Tribune? 


Prefect. 

To  bring  out  Jesus  to  the  mob  again. 

Joanna. 

Yes,  yes,  the  doors  of  the  Prsetorium 
Open.    He  comes.  .  .  . 

Leah. 
Oh,  horrible! 

Procula. 


Orders 


Ye  gods! 


What  have  they  done  with  Him ! 

[To  save  herself  from  fainting  leans 
against  a  column.  Joanna  and 
Leah  try  to  keep  her  back  from 
the  door. 


/ 

96  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  U 

Prefect. 

She  cannot  bear 
To  look  upon  His  miserable  plight ! 

Leah. 
Close  to  the  door.     Be  quick ! 

\_Centurion  closes  door. 

Joanna. 

We  must  not  let  her 
Come  near  that  door  again ! 

Procula. 

I'm  better  now.  .  .  s 
Quite  well.  ...  I  must — ah,  let  me,  let  me  go ! 
Why  do  you  hold  me  ? 

[Door  opens  again.  Enter  Alex- 
ander, running  hurriedly,  seises 
from  a  table  ewer  and  basin,  and 
rushes  to  the  fountain  to  draw 
water.     The  door  remains  open. 

Scene  XXII 

'Pilate's  Voice  [mockingly']. 

Call  you  this  your  King! 

Procula. 
'Tis  Pilate's  voice !    I  hear  him !    Let  me  go! 


Sc.  XXIII]    THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  97 

Joanna. 

Oh,  I  implore  you,  go  not  near  that  door ! 

[Voices  of  the  mob.'\ 

First  Voice. 
Take  Him,  and.  .  .  . 

Second  Voice. 
Crucify  Him! 

Third  Voice. 

Crucify! 

Leah. 
What  are  you  doing?    What's  the  water  for? 

Alexander. 

Pilate  has  ordered  water  to  be  brought. 

[Exit,  running. 

Scene  XXIII 

Voice  of  the  Sadducee. 
Death! 

Voice  of  First  Pharisee. 
On  the  cross! 

Voice  of  Second  Pharisee. 
Away  with  .... 

yoiCE  of  Third  Pharisee. 

Crucify! 


98  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  II 

Pilate's  Voice  [zvith  bitter  irony']. 
Shall  I,  then,  crucify  your  King! 


You  hear? 


Procula. 

That  was  my  husband  spoke  .... 

Joanna. 

Oh,  do  be  calm! 
Dear  Procula,  take  thought,  be  calm! 


No  king! 


We  Jews ! 


Voice  of  First  Pharisee. 

We  know 

Voice  of  Second  Pharisee. 
We  have  no  king! 

Voice  of  Third  Pharisee. 

And  want  no  king, 

Voice  of  the  Sadducee. 
We  have  indeed  no  king  but  Caesar ! 


Procula  [breaking  away  from  them]. 
Let  go — away  .  .  .  Oh,  let  me  to  the  door ! 
Let  go,  I  say !    I  must,  I  will  see  all ! 

[Cries  abate. 

Pilate's  Voice  [after  a  silence]. 
Water  I  take  and  wash  my  hands  in  token 


Sc.  XXIII]    THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  99 

I'm  guiltless  of  the  blood  of  this  Just  Man. 
For  this  unrighteous  deed  the  fault  be  yours! 

Voice  of  the  People. 
On  us  and  on  our  children  be  His  blood ! 


[curtain  falls  quickly.] 


END  OF  ACT  THE  SECOND. 


ACT  THE  THIRD 

I. 

The  house,  and  garden  of  Joseph  of  Arimathsea, 
beside  the  lofty  city  wall,  which  occupies  the  whole  R. 
of  stage.  The  wall  is  overgrown  with  ivy  and  green 
growths.  From  this  wall,  at  the  back  of  the  stage,  runs 
at  right  angles  to  it,  obliquely  across  the  whole  stage 
to  L.,  the  stone  wall  of  the  garden,  dividing  it  from 
the  highway  which,  invisible  to  the  audience,  runs  on 
the  other  side  of  the  wall,  and  along  it  to  the  exit  from 
the  city  gateway,  the  upper  part  of  which  is  visible  at 
back  of  stage  above  the  garden  wall  and  the  city  wall 
at  their  point  of  intersection.  Joseph's  house  juts  out 
L.  in  the  form  of  a  small  annexe  with  flat  roof,  covered 
with  a  tent  or  awning.  On  this  housetop  are  two 
couches,  a  table,  and  a  leather  case  holding  rolls  of 
the  Old  Testament.  The  seats  and  table  are  covered 
with  rich  stuffs.  This  part  of  the  house  runs  right  up 
to  the  garden  wall  before  mentioned.  Stone  steps  lead 
from  the  housetop  to  a  platform  adjoining  the  same 
wall.  A  stone  bench  stands  here.  A  man  standing 
erect  on  the  platform  has  the  garden  wall  at  shoulder 
height,   and   can   therefore   see   over   it   into   the   road. 

100 


Act  III,  Sc.  I]    THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS        loi 

From  the  platform  the  garden  level  is  reached  by  a 
few  steps.  In  the  comer  R.  is  a  well.  Between  it  and 
the  steps  leading  to  the  platform  and  the  housetop  is 
a  wicket-gate  in  the  garden  wall,  which  opens  on  to 
the  highway.  In  the  front  of  the  stage  R.  is  the  way 
into  the  depth  of  the  garden,  in  which  are  seen  vases, 
benches,  flowers. 

About  noonday.    Bright  sunlight. 


Scene  I 

Joseph  sitting  on  the  housetop  reading  the  Law.  Enter 
NicoDEMUs,  who  mounts  slowly  towards  him  up  the 
steps. 

Joseph. 
Ha,  is  it  you,  old  friend  ?    I  am  right  glad 
That  you  at  last  have  come  again  to  see 
Me,  Nicodemus !    Here's  your  seat.    Sit  here 
Beside  me — so !    I've  wanted  long  enough 
To  have  a  serious  talk  with  you,  old  friend. 
Believe  or  not,  but  for  some  weeks  past  now 
I  scarce  can  recognise  my  dear  old  friend. 
[What  is  it  you  conceal?    You  are  so  absent, 
So  grimly  bend  your  brows,  scarce  speak  a  word, 
Fail  often  to  reply  when  you're  addressed. 
And  hold  aloof  from  all.     My  friend,  my  brother,] 
Be  frank  with  me,  and  let  me  know  your  trouble. 


I02  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  III 

NiCODEMUS. 

Joseph,  old  friend,  your  guess  is  right,  for  I 
In  stubborn,  bitter  fight  am  torn  between 
Two  warring  principles.  .  .  . 

Joseph. 

Yes,  yes,  I  see.  .  .  . 

NiCODEMUS. 

'Tis  not  the  first  time  mind  and  heart  conflict ! 

But  never  yet  this  deeply  hidden  strife 

So  sorely  hath  tormented  me  as  now 

These  last  few  days — or,  no,  not  even  days, 

But  hours ;  in  fact,  it  dates  but  from  last  night.  .  .  . 

Joseph. 

What  does  ?    You  mean  the  sudden  trial  and 
Sentence  of  death  on  Jesus.  .  .  . 

NiCODEMUS. 

That,  and  more.  .  .  . 
To  me  'tis  terrible  that  I  ....  I  ...  . 


Joseph. 


What? 


NiCODEMUS. 

Just  this.    That  I  ....  I  feel  but  do  not  know ! 
Ah,  how  it  pains — to  feel  and  not  to  know! 
[Not  once,  but  oft  I  catch  myself  adrift 
On  a  dark  sea  of  feeling  that  is  hope 
In  Jesus ;  and  sometimes  it  seems  to  me 


Sc.  I]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  103 

That  this  is  He,  the  Promised  One,  Messiah, 

Who  shall  throw  off  the  heathen  yoke  of  Rome, 

Set  Israel,  the  chosen  people,  free; 

Shall  come  in  glory,  seated  on  the  throne 

Of  David,  and  from  Sion's  hill  declare 

The  Law,  for  evermore  to  reign  o'er  us. 

Then  came  the  sacred  day  of  our  rejoicing, 

At  Passover,  our  greatest  Jewish  Feast, 

And  my  last  hope  dissolved  and  fell  away.  .  .  . 

Joseph,  my  friend,  you  will  remember  how 

Three  years  ago  or  more  I  secretly 

Went  to  Him  in  the  dark  and  silent  night. 

But  what  you  cannot  know  is  why  I  went. 

I'll  tell  you  now.    With  all  the  power  of  faith] 

For  many  years — from  childhood's  days — I've  searched 

The  Law,  the  Scriptures,  all  the  Words  of  God. 

The  deeper  I  can  penetrate  their  wisdom, 

The  clearer,  more  defined,  more  strikingly 

Stands  unmistakably  before  my  eyes 

The  false  and  fatal  path  in  which  we're  led 

Because  we  listen  to  our  scribes  and  lawyers. 

Joseph, 
And  whither  lead  they,  then? 

NiCODEMUS. 

I  know  not  whither! 
Only — 'tis  not  to  God ! 

Joseph. 
What,  can  it  be 


104  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS        [Act  HI 

That  you,  a  teacher  in  Israel,  a  chief 
Among  the  Jews — you,  Nicodemus,  dare 
Give  utterance  to  such  a  thought? 

Nicodemus. 

I  do! 
I  dare  because  the  Law  that  Moses  gave, 
The  Prophets  and  traditions  of  our  elders — 
Our  doctrine's  whole  sum-total  is  to  me 
So  very  dear,  lies  nearest  to  my  heart. 
Therein  the  Truth,  the  Life,  and  God  Himself 
Are  to  be  found ;  and  only  there — not  in 
The  glosses  of  our  lawyers,  Levites,  priests. 
Think  you  yourself  the  true  faith  dwells  in  such 
As  our  Sanhedrin  members,  Pharisees 
And  Sadducees? 

Joseph. 
In  whom,  then,  dwells  the  faith? 
Where  is  true  faith? 

Nicodemus. 
In  children!  they  alone 
Have  faith.     I  mind  me  well  that  as  a  child 
I  did  believe  in  God  with  all  my  heart ! 
My  infant  soul  was  all  aflame  with  love 
For  Him,  a  love  that  was  both  warm  and  pure  : 
He  floated  o'er  me  in  untroubled  skies. 
And  over  me  the  everlasting  blue 
Seemed  as  a  shield,  and  I  was  loved  of  Him. 
To  Him  I  prayed,  or,  rather,  no,  not  prayed. 


Sc.  I]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  105 

For  then  I  had  not  learned  as  yet  to  pray 

As  men  make  prayers  to  God ;  but  to  the  height 

Of  Heaven  I  soared  in  soul,  and  wept  for  joy. 

Tears  of  delight  ineffable  were  those 

That  brought  me  happiness  and  joyous  days, 

For  in  my  tears  I  found  community 

With  Him,  the  God  that  made  me !    Joseph,  say. 

Hath  not  each  one  of  us  gone  through  the  same 

In  those  bright  years  when  we  were  growing  boys  ? 

Then  tell  me  this :  What  is  it  that  they  teach 

Our  children  now  ? 

Joseph. 
A  pretty  question !    What  ? 
Why,  surely,  faith  in  the  ever-living  God 
They  teach,    the   Jewish   Law,   and   God's   Command- 
ments .... 

NiCODEMUS. 

Nay,  nay,  not  so,  my  friend !    They  teach  not  that ! 

No,  the  inventions  of  mere  intellect 

Have  long  ago  for  us  usurped  the  place 

Of  God's  Commandments  and  the  sacred  Law: 

We've  ceremonial  in  place  of  faith, 

The  Lord  is  hid  behind  the  Sanhedrin ! 

Joseph. 

Bethink  thee,  Nicodemus,  what  is  this! 
Surely  our  priesthood  stablish  and  maintain 
Faith  in  the  Truth  Divine  in  all  its  force ! 


io6  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  HI 

NiCODEMUS. 

Our  priests,  indeed !    Why,  Joseph,  have  you  thought 

But  once  of  what  our  priests  have  done  with  it. 

The  Truth  Divine  you  speak  of?    They  have  taken 

And  safe  concealed  the  Truth  of  God  behind 

The  Sanctuary's  richly  broidered  veil. 

Hammered  it  up  in  gold  and  silver  shapes, 

Set  it  about  with  gems  and  stones  of  price. 

Beclouded  it  with  incense'  heavy  fumes! 

That's  what  our  priests  have  done  with  Truth  Divine! 

[Beholdest  thou  thy  God,  oh  Israel? 

Hearkenest  thou  to  Him,  oh  Chosen  People? 

Ye  see  not,  neither  heed  ?    'Tis  better  so ! 

The  truth  Divine  is  guarded  all  the  surer, 

All  the  more  firmly,  faithfully  and  safer 

Do  we  for  you  preserve  God's  revelation !] 

The  people?    Outcasts!    Let  them  in  the  Law 

Be  ignorant !    'Tis  care  enough  for  them 

To  pay  their  tithes  and  know  the  Sabbath  rules, 

Avoid  defilement,  purify  themselves, 

Make  sacrifices,  alms,  oblations  give. 

And  with  all  strictness  keep  the  Sabbath  day. 

Joseph. 
Now  with  more  calm,  and  without  fear,  my  friend, 
I  listen  to  your  words;  at  first  I  could 
But  feel  with  horror  that  yourself  had  lost 
Belief  in  God  and  faith  in  Truth  Divine! 
[I  was  in  fear  for  you,  my  true  old  friend, 
And  sorely  ached  my  heart  to  hear  your  words !] 


Sc.  I]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  107 

But  now  I  see  you're  firm  in  faith  as  ay : 
'Tis  for  our  poor  and  common  folk  your  heart 
Is  grieved,  and  I  that  grief  most  deeply  share. 
Now,  hear  me :  I  was  busy  when  you  came 
Reading  the  Prophets,  'twas  Isaiah's  book; 
Open  the  roll  there,  no,  not  that — the  other, 
Aye,  this  one;  see,  at  bottom  of  the  page, 
Here :    "  To  what  purpose  is  the  multitude 
Of  sacrifices,  saith  the  Lord ;  I  am  full 
Of  the  burnt  offerings  of  rams  and  fat  of 
Fed  beasts,  and  I  delight  not  in  the  blood 
Of  bullocks  or  of  lambs  or  of  he-goats." 

NiCODEMUS. 

'Tis  strange,  friend  Joseph,  passing  strange !  for  here 
Is  answer  to  my  thought !    Almighty  God 
Doth  by  His  prophet's  lips  clear  warning  give: 
Old  forms  of  service  now  are  superseded! 

Joseph. 
I  do  believe  it ;  not  far  off  the  day 
When  we,  not  in  King  David's  royal  city. 
Not  in  the  Temple's  grand  magnificence. 
Not  here  alone,  but  anywhere  on  earth, 
As  children  to  a  father,  shall  bow  down 
Before  the  Great  Creator  of  all  worlds, 
True  worshippers,  in  spirit  and  in  truth, 
Pray  everywhere. 

NiCODEMUS. 

It  makes  my  heart  rejoice 
To  hear  you  speak  like  that;  I  know  again 


io8  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  HI 

The  holy  words  of  Jesus.    With  my  soul, 
With  all  my  mind  and  heart,  I  do  believe 
He  hath  been  sent  by  God  upon  our  earth 
To  make  with  us  a  newer  Covenant. 
'Tis  He,  the  Promised  One,  the  true  Messiah, 
There's  not  a  doubt !    Then  sudden  I  recall 
The  Sanhedrin,  that  midnight  trial,  Pilate, 
The  interrogatory,  sentence,  death.  .  .  . 
And  as  an  eagle  in  mid-air  transfixed 
Droops  helplessly  her  wings,  so  droops  my  faith 
And  back  I  fall  to  an  abyss  of  doubts. 

Joseph. 
Nay,  nay,  despond  not,  friend,  look  up  and  hope, 
Have  patience !    Let  us  not  o'erbold  prejudge 
The  Will  Divine,  All-knowing  Providence! 

lEnter  Servant. 

Scene  II 

Servant. 
My  master's  served! 

Joseph  [to  Nicodemus]. 

Nay,  my  old  friend,  but  stay 
And  share  with  me  the  midday  meal  to-day ! 

[Exeunt  all  three  L. 

Scene  III 

[Enter  R.  from  depths  of  garden  Simon,  Rufus  and 
Bartimaeus  with  gardening  tools.^ 

Simon  [mopping  his  browl. 
How  hotly  burns  the  sun  in  open  field ! 


Sc.  Ill]         THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  109 

Why,  only  yesterday  the  wind  blew  cold, 
Like  whiff  of  snows  from  off  Mount  Lebanon: 
The  cloudless  skies  last  night  were  very  chill, 
And,  lo,  to-day  by  noon  'tis  hot  already. 


RUFUS. 

'Tis  on  the  swallow's  wing  that  Spring  comes  in ! 
See,  father,  yonder  pair  beneath  the  roof 
Already  busy  with  their  last  year's  nest. 
Year  after  year  how  constantly  they  come! 
And  here,  look,  by  the  vase,  a  hyacinth 
Is  all  but  ready,  basking  in  the  sun, 
Its  brilliant  whorls  of  colour  to  unfold. 

Simon. 

Aye,  once  again  th'  Almighty  guerdons  us 
With  Springtide's  happy  season  of  all  joys! 
Already  at  the  first  warm  breath  of  Spring, 
Forthreaching  from  their  beds  toward  the  sun, 
The  snowy  lilies  stretch  their  dainty  stems. 
Why  could  they  not  have  flowered  for  the  feast, 
Our  Master  loves  them  so !    Nay,  they  will  scarce 
Bloom  by  to-morrow. 

Bartimaeus. 

God,  what  happiness 
Once  more  with  seeing  eyes  to  look  upon 
The  brilliant  colours  of  God's  world  of  charm! 


no  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  HI 

Simon. 
[Aye,  Bartimaeus,  God  Himself  hath  looked 
From  Heaven  behind  the  clouds  on  thy  blind  eyes, 
And  granted  to  the  Teacher  grace  to  aid 
And  give  thee  back  thy  sight  in  wondrous  wise. 
On  earth  beneath,  in  Heaven  beyond  the  stars, 
God's  goodness,  generous  and  full  of  care, 

Relieved  thee  in  thy  poverty  and  need. 

A  good  man,  too,  our  master !    Blessed  be 
His  name  for  ever !    Many  are  the  tears 
That  he  hath  wiped  away  with  pitying  hand. 
The  poor,  the  orphaned,  widowed — none  can  tell 
The  numbers  that  his  charity  doth  heal. 

RUFUS. 

Few  will  you  find  here  in  Jerusalem 
Among  the  great  like  Joseph.    Truly  he 
And  Nicodemus — who's  his  firmest  friend — 
The  same  that  was  but  now  upon  the  roof 
In  talk  with  him,  in  all  the  Sanhedrin 
Have  not  their  equal  if  you  reckon  by 
Good-heartedness. 

Simon. 

Aye,  Joseph  nowhere  else 
Had  found  another  worthy  of  himself !] 

\_Knocking  at  the  wicket. 

There's  someone  knocking  there.    Go  open,  Rufus. 

[RuFus      opens      wicket.  Enter 

Joanna. 


Sc.  IV]        THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  iii 


Scene  IV 

Joanna. 
Your  master's  in  ?    I  come  on  business. 

Simon. 

The  master  is  within,  and  will  be  glad 
To  see  you,  lady.    He  is  just  at  meat 
With  Nicodemus. 

Joanna. 
Ah,  good  day,  good  Simon! 
From  Pilate's  palace  with  sad  tidings  I 
Am  come.    Truly  my  heart  is  sore,  my  friends, 
To  be  the  bearer  of  such  grievous  news. 

Simon. 
Nay,  lady,  we  can  bear  to  hear  the  worst. 

RUFUS. 

And  may  we,  madam,  these  your  tidings  know? 

Bartimaeus. 
'Tis  not  to  Jesus  any  mishap  come? 

Joanna. 

You  guess  it.    He  is  doomed  to  dies  on  cross. 
Along  the  highway  here,  through  yonder  gate, 
They  are  to  lead  Him  now  to  Golgotha. 


112  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  HI 

RUFUS. 

Impossible!    It  can't  be  true! 

Simon. 

The  Teacher! 

Bartimaeus. 
It  cannot  be  that  He  die  crucified 
Like  felon  on  the  cross ! 

RUFUS. 

Forgive  us,  lady. 
The  tidings  that  you  bring  with  horror  chill 
My  very  soul,  and  I  can  scarce  believe. 

Bartimaeus, 
The  Just  One !    He !    Who  worketh  miracles ! 

Simon. 
He  is  incapable  of  doing  harm! 

RuFUS. 

Put  Him  to  death !    And  to  a  felon's  death ! 

Joanna. 
Oh,  would  I  too  could  dare  to  not  believe 
That  this  is  truth,  that  in  this  very  hour 
He  dies  a  felon's  death! 

Bartimaeus. 

Great  God!     For  this 
Have  my  unhappy  eyes  regained  their  sight  ? 


Sc.  V]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  113 

Oh,  could  I  but  be  blind  again  for  life 
Rather  than  I  should  see  such  sufferings ! 

Simon. 
Rufus,  you  mind,  four  days  ago,  or  five, 
When  at  the  Temple  gate  the  ass's  rein 
I  held,  and  helped  the  Teacher  to  dismount? 
He  looked  me  in  the  eyes,  and  then  He  said 
He  waited  from  me  yet  one  service  more. 

Rufus. 
Aye,  aye,  I  mind  it  well ;  and  I  replied 
His  words  of  their  fulfilment  never  fail — 
Have  never  failed — yet  how  fulfil  them  now ! 

[Enter  on  the  housetop  Joseph  and 

NicoDEMus.    Simon,  Rufus  and 

Bartimaeus     set     about     their 

gardening  work. 

Scene  V 

Joanna. 
Ah,  there  your  master  comes ! 

[Mounts  the  steps. 
Joseph. 

Whose  voice  is  that? 
Ah,  'tis  Joanna !  and  right  welcome !    From 
The  Palace  you  are  come?    And  what's  your  news? 

Joanna. 
Ill  news  I  bring!    The  Procurator,  after 
Long  vacillation,  hath  confirmed  their  sentence. 


114  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  HI 

NiCODEMUS. 

The  end  of  all ! 

Joanna. 

The  soldiers  make  things  ready 
For  that  most  shameful  of  all  forms  of  death. 
From  Pilate's  Palace  straight  to  you  I  came 
At  Procula's  request.    She  is  distraught, 
Nigh  desperate  with  grief.     She  begged  me  come 
And  tell  her  all  that  we  shall  see  from  here. 

{^Behind  the  scenes,  R.,  the  noise  of  an 
approaching  crowd.  Simon,  Rufus 
and  Bartimaeus  drop  their  tools. 
Simon  goes  to  the  wicket  and  looks 
through  it  into  the  street.  Rufus  be- 
hind him.  Bartimaeus  runs  up  the 
steps  and  looks  over  the  wall. 

Scene  VI 

Simon. 
They're  bringing  Him! 

[A  cry. 
Rufus, 

Far  off  I  see  the  street 
Filled  with  a  multitude. 

Bartimaeus. 

The  dust  they  raise! 
There  come  the  soldiers,  and  in  front  a  herald ! 


Sc.  VI]         THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  115 

Joanna. 
Ah,  do  you  hear,  afar,  Hke  roaring  tide 
That  breaks  with  angry  waves  upon  the  shore, 
There  comes  the  din  of  muhitudes  afoot! 
I  tremble,  Joseph.    Nearer,  oh,  so  near ! 
Would  God  I  never  heard  and  could  not  see! 

Joseph, 
Be  brave ! 

Joanna. 

Oh  God  above,  but  give  me  strength ! 

NiCODEMUS. 

Aye,  pray  to  Him ! 

Voice  of  Herald  [behind  the  scenes  R.,  far  off,  in 
a  sort  of  sing-song  drawl]. 

JESUS  OF  NAZARETH, 
KING  OF  THE  JEWS! 

Bartimaeus. 

It  is  the  herald's  cry ! 

Simon. 
I  hear ! 

NiCODEMUS. 

Oh  ye  stiff-necked  and  perverse 
People  of  Israel's  rebellious  nation! 
Sons  of  Destruction !    How  ye  have  forgot. 
Abandoned  and  forgot,  your  God !    His  wrath 
Consuming  hath  not  taught  you  yet  to  yield 
With  meek  submission  to  His  Holy  Will! 


ii6  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  HI 

[Whenas  from  Egypt's  land  ye  were  brought  out 

And  the  divided  waters  made  you  way : 

When  in  the  wilderness  ye  wandered  dark, 

Your  prophet  and  your  guide,  with  lightning  flash, 

And  rolling  bursts  of  thunder,  in  a  cloud 

Caught  up  into  the  smoking  summit  of 

The  mountain,  forty  days  with  the  Creator 

Held  converse,  ye  ...  .  What  did  ye  then  below  ? 

Ye  made  that  image  of  the  golden  calf 

And  round  about  it  then  ye  danced  and  played. 

With  shamelessness  and  sin  ye  played  and  danced ! 

The  Lord  did  spare  you  and  forgave  the  sin. 

And  ye?    How  did  ye  then  repay  His  mercy?] 

He  sent  you  prophets,  wise  men  sent  He  you, 

And  righteous  ones.    And  ye?    Ye  drave  them  out 

From  town  to  town,  dishonoured  them,  and  stoned. 

Beat  them,  yea,  put  them  to  a  shameful  death. 

Fill  up,  now,  ye,  the  measure  of  your  sins 

And  of  your  fathers'  trespasses!    Remains 

But  This  One,  sent  from  Heaven  to  you  on  earth 

By  God,  to  preach  you  charity  and  peace. 

As  Moses  in  the  wilderness  raised  up 

The  brazen  serpent,  ye  raise  Christ  on  Cross ! 

Now  through  the  ages  never  shall  this  sin 

To  you  and  to  your  children  be  forgiven ! 

l_The  noise  of  the  crozvd,  which  has  been 
growing  louder  and  nearer  all  through 
NicoDEMUs'  speech,  is  now  heard  on 
the  stage  behind  the  wall,  R. 


Sc.  VII]      THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  117 

Joanna  [catching  at  Joseph's  arm]. 
Look,  look,  He's  there! 

Joseph. 

The  prophecy's  fulfilled : 
"  A  Man  of  Sorrows  and  acquaint  with  grief : 
Wounded  for  our  transgressions :  cut  off  from 
The  land  of  men.    For  the  transgression  of 
My  people  is  He  stricken  unto  death !".... 

Simon. 
'Tis  too  much  for  His  strength,  that  heavy  cross! 

Bartimaeus. 
His  strength  is  failing  Him.  .  .  . 

RUFUS. 

He  stumbles.  .  .  . 
Joanna. 

Ah! 
[^  cry. 
Simon. 
He's  down!    The  teacher.  .  .  . 

\_Hastily  rushes  through  the  wicket. 

Scene  VII 

Voice  of  the  Sadducee  [behind  wall]. 

Forward,  there! 

yoiCE  OF  First  Pharisee  [behind  wall]. 

Get  on,  now ! 


ii8  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  HI 

Voice  of  Centurion   [compassionately,  behind  wa//]. 
Exhausted  quite,  poor  man.  .  .  . 

Bartimaeus  [to  RuFus;  runs  to  left  side  of  plat- 
form and  looks  over  waW}. 

Your  father's  swung 
The  cross  on  his  own  back. 

Voice  of  Centurion  [behind  waW]. 

Well,  since  you've  got 
The  cross,  e'en  carry  it  for  Him,  condemned 
To  die ! 

Voice  of  Second  Pharisee  [behind  waW]. 
Get  up ! 

Voice  of  first  Pharisee  [behind  wa//]. 
Up  with  you ! 

Voice  of  Third  Pharisee  [behind  wall]. 

Too  late  now 
To  grovel  in  the  dust ! 

Voice  of  Sadducee  [behind  wa//]. 
Oh,  marvellous! 
Others  didst  save,  and  canst  not  save  Thyself! 

Joanna. 
I  hate  those  Pharisees ! 

Rufus. 

Bloodsuckers  ay! 


Sc.  VII]       THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  IJ9 

Bartimaeus. 
The  monsters! 

Voice  of  Centurion  [behind  wall,  compassionatelyl. 

You  there,  some  of  you,  the  escort. 
Just  help  Him  up  and  set  Him  on  His  feet 
Again ! 

NiCODEMUS. 

A  Roman,  a  Centurion, 
Idolator  and  heathen!     More  humane 
Than  all  these  Jews  professing  to  believe 
In  one  true  God! 

Voice  of  Herald  [behind  middle  of  waW]. 
JESUS  OF  NAZARETH, 
KING  OF  THE  JEWS ! 

[The  noise  of  the  crowd  is  heard  now  be- 
behind  the  middle  of  the  wall  and  con- 
tinues to  move  towards  L. 

RUFUS. 

My  father  after  Him 
Is  carrying  the  cross.    So  that  was  it ! 
That  was  the  one  more  service  yet.    Fulfilled 
His  words  are  now! 

Bartimaeus. 

But  He  is  not  alone. 
Our  Teacher;  after  Him  to  Golgotha, 
See,  now,  there  comes  another  following, 
And  bears  a  cross  as  one  condemned  to  die. 


I20  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act   HI 

RUFUS. 

Aye,  and  one  more  is  there  that  bears  a  cross. 

Bartimaeus. 
Who  are  these  two  ? 

RUFUS. 

I  know  them  now ;  they  are 
The  comrades  of  Barabbas  in  that  rising. 

Joanna. 
Oh,  Joseph,  look !  there,  leaning  on  the  arm 
Of  that  disciple  whom  He  loveth  best 
Comes  after  Him,  her  Son,  the  Mother  Mary! 
Ah,  how  the  mother's  heart  is  through  and  through 
As  with  sharp  sword  tortured  and  stabbed  with  grief  1 

Joseph. 
The  sorrow  of  all  mothers  of  this  world, 
That  sorrow  for  their  children,  in  Thy  sorrow 
Is  sanctified  henceforth  for  evermore! 
Let  us  go  after  her! 

Joanna. 

Come,  Joseph,  come! 
[^Hastily    descend    the    steps    and    exeunt 
through     the     wicket.      Rufus     afi:> 
them. 

Scene  VIII 

[Bartimaeus,  leaning  on  the  ivall  sobbing  bitterly.] 

NicoDEMus  [looking  after  the  procession,  kneels.^ 

The  wrath  of  God 
Consumes  them  not!    The  Angels  out  of  Heaven 


Sc.  VIII]       THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  121 

Speed  not  at  His  command  down  to  our  earth 

To  rescue  Jesus  from  these  miscreant  hands!  .... 

A  moment  more  and  on  the  felon's  cross, 

Mocked    with    His    Crown    of    thorns,    He    will    be 

nailed!  .  .  . 
Nor  sit  enthroned,  our  King,  the  Promised  One, 
On  Sion's  hill.  .  .  . 

Voice  of  Herald  [behind  wall,  L.]. 

JESUS  OF  NAZARETH, 
KING  OF  THE  JEWS! 


[curtain.] 


ACT  THE  THIRD 

II. 

Pilate's  Palace.  A  richly  appointed  hall.  In  the  mid- 
dle several  marble  steps  lead  up  to  a  deep  semicircular 
vaulted  alcove,  in  which  is  a  triclinium.  A  door  on 
either  side  of  the  alcove.  Before  the  triclinium  a  table 
richly  loaded  with  meats  and  drinks.  Masses  of  flowers. 
Rich  table  service. 

About  the  table,  reclining  on  ivory  couches,  Pilate, 
the  Prefect,  and  the  two  Tribunes.  Procula  sits  on  the 
couch  opposite  Pilate. 

Twilight,  sufficiently  light,  however,  to  distinguish 
objects,  but  gradually  growing  darker. 

Alexander  and  other  slaves  in  attendance. 

SCENE  I 

First  Tribune. 

The  third  hour  after  noon  hath  not  yet  gone 
And  sunlight  failed ! 

Second  Tribune. 

A  curious  darkness  seems 
To  overspread  the  earth. 

122 


Act  III,  Sc.  II]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       123 

First  Tribune. 

The  mystic  gloom 
Grows  darker  still  and  thicker. 

Prefect. 

Mystic?    Well, 
The  moon  doth  hide  the  sun  awhile,  that's  all ! 

Procula. 

The  cloudless  skies  turned  on  a  sudden  dark ■ 

In  that  same  hour  on  Golgotha  began 
His  death.  .  .  . 

Scene  II 

Voice  [behind  the  scenes,  far  off,  in  a  sort  of  sing- 
song drawl'\. 
OH,  PRAY  FOR  THOSE  CONDEMNED  TO  DIE. 

First  Tribune. 
Again ! 

Second  Tribune. 

That  voice  ill-boding  there  again! 

First  Tribune. 
What  means  it? 

Pilate. 

'Tis  a  custom  they  have  here 
At  executions.     While  'tis  going  on 
A  Levite  on  the  tower  summons  all 
Good  folks  to  pray  for  the  condemned  to  death. 


124  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  HI 

Procula, 

Pilate,  'tis  not  too  late !    There  yet  is  time ! 

You  may  make  right  that  dreadful  sin  of  yours. 

That  sentence  there  is  time  yet  to  annul — 

Let  Alexander — anyone — but  run 

This  moment  with  all  speed  to  Golgotha, 

To  the  Centurion.     Pilate,  I  beg, 

I  do  beseech  you,  oh,  by  all  you  hold 

Most  dear  on  earth!    Oh,  send  and  save  Him  now! 

Let  some  one  give  your  orders  there  to  stop, 

At  least  break  off  the  execution,  Pilate! 

Pilate. 

You  ask  what  is  impossible,  and  judge 
But  like  a  woman.     It  becomes  me  not 
To  pass  death  sentences,  and  then  annul! 
No  ruler  who  is  strong  can  do  such  things. 

Procula. 

But,  Pilate,  you  yourself  hold  innocent 
The  man  condemned  to  die! 

Pilate. 

Aye,  there  are  reasons 
Your  woman's  mind  would  hardly  understand: 
Reasons  of  State.     But  why  this  interest? 
What  can  it  matter,  Procula,  to  you, 
A  Roman  matron,  that  this  Jew  must  die? 


Sc.  ITI]         THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  125 

Procula  l^aside  to  Alexander]. 
How  long  she  tarries,  Leah !    Alexander, 
Go  see,  she  may  perchance  have  even  now 
Returned  with  news.    I  sent  her  long  ago 
To  bring  me  tidings. 

Alexander. 
Madam,  I  will  inquire. 

[E.vit  Alexander  R. 

Scene  III 

Prefect  [aside  to  Pilate]. 
The  awful  scene  of  execution  holds 
Her  every  thought  enchained.     But  we  must  try 
With  lively  talk  to  turn  her  thoughts  away. 

Pilate. 

Aye,  let  us  talk!  \_To  the  slaves.']  You,  keep  the  goblets 

filled. 
Fill  up! 

Voice  [behind  the  scenes]. 

OH,  PRAY  FOR  THOSE  CONDEMNED  TO  DIE. 

First  Tribune. 

That  melancholy  voice!    I  vow,  it  throws 
A  cloud  upon  one's  spirit. 

Second  Tribune. 

Egypt  has 
A  custom,  in  the  midst  of  mirth  and  joy, 


126  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  III 

To  show  the  guests  a  mummy  at  the  feast, 
Reminding  them  that  death  is  ever  nigh : 
But  I  declare  that  long-drawn  mournful  voice 
No  less  recalls  the  end  inevitable. 

IHcre  Procula,  who  has  not  been  attend- 
ing to  the  talk,  listens  to  the  words  of 
the  Second  Tribune. 

First  Tribune. 
Why,  look,  the  gloom  grows  blacker  still  all  round! 

Second  Tribune. 
The  day  is  turned  to  night! 

First  Tribuue. 

I  scarce  can  tell 
One  object  from  another. 

Pilate. 

Lights!  light  up! 

\_Slaves  light  candelabra. 

Prefect. 

How  brightly  flash  in  artificial  light 
The  emeralds  that  deck  the  necklace  of 
Our  gracious  hostess !    They  remind  me  now 
Of  Lollia;  for  when  she  was  divorced 
By  Csesar's  heir  and  grandson,  pretty  soon 
She  found  quite  easily  another  spouse, 
Not  of  too  noble  origin,  and  I 


Sc.  IV]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  127 

Was  bidden  to  the  wedding  feast;  the  bride 
Was  hung  about  with  forty  milHons'  worth 
In  sesterces  of  emeralds  and  pearls. 

Pilate  J^with  a  laugh]. 

Now,  could  you  really  compute  by  eye 
[The  worth  exact  of  all  that  she  had  on 

Prefect. 

Not  I,  indeed,  no  expert  I  in  pearls 
And  precious  gems:  'twas  she  herself  who  told 
To  all  and  sundry,  oft  and  times  again, 
[Their  value ! 

[Enter  R.  Leah,  behind  her  Alexander. 


Scene  IV 

Procula. 
Leah,  are  you  back  at  last! 
Come  here,  and  sit  beside  me,  nearer,  here : 
Sit  on  the  footstool  here  beside  my  couch. 

[Converses  with  her  in  undertones. 

Prefect. 

When  I  set  sail  for  far-away  Judasa, 
And  as  my  native  shores  fell  out  of  sight 
In  azure  haze  beyond  the  stern  low  down. 
The  woods  and  gardens  of  Puteoli, 


128  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS         [Act  UI 

My  thoughts  were  all  of  what  I  left  behind, 
Robbed  of  my  friends,  of  kith  and  kin  deprived, 
Torn  from  my  home,  it  seemed  to  me  I  came 
But  to  fail  victim  to  dull  loneliness: 
And  lo,  I  scarce  have  been  a  day  arrived 
And  here  already  feel  myself  at  home! 

Second  Tribune. 
Here,  as  at  Rome,  as  on  the  Palatine, 
We  hear  our  native  language,  see  the  same 
Magnificent  rich  halls  before  our  eyes 
And  meet  as  well  a  Roman  welcome  here! 

First  Tribune. 
Who  would  have  dreamt  Judaea  could  provide 
A  feast  like  this,  quite  worthy  of  Lucullus! 

Prefect. 
[In  truth,  what  lacks  there  of  the  finest  here? 
The  brains  of  peacocks,  and  flamingoes'  tongues, 
Sea-urchins,  too,  and  oysters  from  Tarentum, 
Numidian  poultry  even,  and  a  fish 
That  could  have  come  but  from  the  Euxine  Sea ! 

First  Tribune. 
And  what  variety  to  tempt  the  eye 
Of  richest  fruits!     Pomona's  horn  indeed 
Hath  poured  for  us  its  famed  abundance  here: 
Apples,  and  cherries,  and  Egyptian  figs. 
Pomegranates  and  the  rich  Damascus  plums. 


Sc.   IV]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  129 

Second  Tribune. 
Aye,  dainty  dishes,  and  fine  fruits,  indeed. 
But  better  still  the  inspiring  stream  that  brims 
Our  goblets,  these  Chios  and  Cyprus  wines; 
Their  play  of  froth  and  sparkles  sates  the  thirst 
With  every  draught,  and  sets  the  blood  afire.] 

Prefect. 
Comrades,  I  raise  my  goblet  to  the  health 
Of  our  good  host,  the  Procurator. 

First  Tribune. 

Health! 

Second  Tribune. 

Our  honoured  host,  the  Procurator! 

Prefect. 


Now 


'A  goblet  to  his  noble  spouse,  all  hail ! 

First  Tribune. 
To  Procula  I  drain  my  goblet  dry! 

Second  Tribune. 

I  too! 

Pilate. 

Comrades  in  arms,  my  thanks  to  you. 
Both  for  myself  and  for  my  Procula ! 

Prefect. 

Our  hostess  of  us  all  hath  never  touched 
One  morsel  of  this  rich  array  of  meats! 


I30  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  III 

First  Tribune. 

And  not  a  sip!  still  mantling  to  the  brim 
Before  her  vainly  stands  that  priceless  cup! 

Prefect. 

I  warrant  in  a  house  like  yours,  among 

The  slave-girls  there  are  some  well-skilled  in  dance?. 

The  far-famed  dance  of  Syria,  belike. 

With  music  soft  and  soothing,  flute  and  lyre. 

Might  liven  the  sad  spirits  of  your  spouse, 

And  in  the  gaiety  this  cloud  will  pass. 

Pilate. 

Send  in  my  dancing  girls,  the  Syrians, 
And  dancers  with  them. 

Procula  [aside  to  Leah]. 

Oh,  what  tortures  mine! 
Ah,  Leah,  Leah,  listening  to  your  tale 
I  feel  as  if  the  cold  sharp  iron  pierced 
With  nails  not  His  but  my  own  hands  and  feet. 
They  crucify  Him,  and  my  heart  is  torn 
With  agony  as  if  at  point  of  death. 
My  feelings,  thoughts  and  all  my  senses  are 
On  Golgotha  with  Him — that  awful  cross  .... 
And  here  they  talk  and  laugh  and  would  be  merry  .  .  .  . 
I  must  away,  I  cannot  bear  to  hear.  .  .  . 

Leah. 

Oh,  pray  you,  lady,  bear  it  yet  a  while; 
They  know  not  what  they  do!    And  if  you  go 


Sc.  V]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  131 

You'll  anger  Pilate — keep  them  company 

A  little  longer,  rouse  yourself,  pretend, 

And  play  the  hostess,  gay  and  free  from  care! 

{Enter  the  Syrian  dancers,  girls  and  men. 


Scene  V 

Procula. 
I  cannot,  I  can  bear  no  more,  indeed.  .  ,  .- 

\_Mnsic    is    heard    from    the    garden;    the 
musicians  are  unseen. 

Oh,  let  me  not,  at  least,  their  dancing  see.  .  .  . 
Ah,  take  me  somewhere,  anywhere,  from  here!  .  .  s 

Leah. 

I  pray  you,  lady,  summon  all  your  strength ; 
Is  He  not  patient,  and  can  you  not  bear! 

{Syrian  slave-girl  dances. 

Prefect. 
With  Lydian  music,  languishing  and  soft, 
Her  every  motion  laps  the  soul  in  bliss! 

First  Tribune. 
What  tender  grace! 

Second  Tribune. 

What  passion  in  her  pose! 


1 32  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  HI 

Prefect. 

Her  pliant  form  in  fainting  languishment 
Is  borne  along  as  if  she  floated  on 
The  bosom  of  the  ocean ! 

First  Tribune. 

Goddesses, 
The  immortal  Graces  scarce  surpass  such  art! 

Second  Tribune. 
At  sight  of  all  these  tender  charms,  I  vow, 
Terpsichore  herself  might  envious  grow, 
Albeit  one  of  the  Parnassus  Nine! 

Prefect. 
How  pale  she  is — and  trembling — head  to  foot! 
And  in  those  eyes,  their  fire  so  dimmed  and  dull, 
Surely  I  read  a  sense  of  deadly  fear. 

Pilate. 

Something  more  gay,  now,  livelier,  together, 
Dance  all. 

Voice  [behind  the  scenes^. 
OH,  PRAY  FOR  THOSE  CONDEMNED  TO  DIE! 

First  Tribune. 
That  voice  again ! 

Second  Tribune. 

Oh,  blessed  be  good  wine! 
Makes  you  forget  all  superstitious  fears ! 


Sc.  V]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  133 

First  Tribune. 
Aye,  e'en  this  boding  darkness  matters  naught! 

[Syrian     slaves,     men     and     girls,     dance 
together. 

Prefect. 
He  dances  as  in  dream,  bereft  of  sense,  ' 
With  terror  in  his  eyes  no  less  than  hers. 

First  Tribune. 
'Tis  so  the  tiger  stalks  his  destined  prey ! 

Second  Tribune. 
She  flies,  light-footed  as  the  Zephyr  blows, 
And  hardly  seems  to  touch  the  marble  floor. 

First  Tribune. 
Now  he  has  got  her ! 

Prefect, 

No,  she's  off  again! 

Second  Tribune. 
So  lightly  Proserpine  from  Pluto  fled! 

Prefect. 
Or  Sabine  girls  from  Roman  loves.  .  .  . 

[A  blinding  flash  of  lightning.  Deafen- 
ing crashes  of  thunder.  Rumbling 
under  ground.  An  earthquake.  Walls 
and  columns  totter. 


134  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act  HI 

Second  Tribune. 

Ye  Gods! 
[Runs,  stumbling,  falls  and  lies  horror- 
stricken. 

Prefect  [in  alarm']. 

Lightning  and  thunder,  rumbling  underground ! 

[Hurries  to   the  exit   towards   the  garden, 
and  supports  himself  against  a  column. 

Pilate  [dropping  his  goblet]. 
The  very  earth  is  quaking!     [Jumps  from  his  place. 

First  Tribune. 

We  are  lost! 
[^Syrian  slave-girl  with  a  terrifying  zvail 
runs  out — the  man  after  her.  A 
howling  gust  of  wind.  The  lights  go 
out.  Pitch  darkness.  A  long  pause 
of  dead  silence.  Then  suddenly  day- 
light again. 

Scene  VI 

Prefect. 
What  was  it  ? 

Pilate. 

Do  we  dream,  or  wake  and  live? 

First  Tribune. 
My  head  goes  round ! 


Sc.  VI]        THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  135 

Second  Tribune. 

My  very  blood  is  frozen! 

Procula.     iMajestically,  rising  slowly  to  her  feet.'] 

And  have  ye  even  now  not  understood  ? 

Or  are  the  hearts  within  you  turned  to  stone  ? 

O  Pilate,  Pilate,  how  like  a  timorous  weakling 

Thou  gavest  up  the  Innocent  to  death ! 

Know  thou,  Rome's  Procurator  in  Judaea, 

Viceroy  of  Caesar  and  the  Caesar's  friend, 

Not  all  the  waters  of  this  world  shall  wash 

Thee  guiltless  of  this  monstrous  fault  of  thine! 

He !    He— the  Just  One ! — the  Messiah  I — He, 

The  Truth  Incarnate  and  the  Son  of  God, 

Hangs  there  outstretched  upon  a  felon's  cross! 

And  ye  here  marvel  that  the  sun  grows  dark. 

That  lightnings  flash  and  crackle  through  the  gloom. 

That  dreadful  thunders  from  the  welkin  burst, 

And  earth  to  her  bowels  heaves  in  agony — 

I.  ...  I  believe !  .  .  .  My  heart  speaks  true  to  me ! 

This  moment  He  hath  yielded  up  His  spirit, 

And  it  is  finished!  .  .  ,     May  His  Passion,  Lord, 

Atone  the  sins  of  this  our  lower  world! 

[curtain  falls  swiftly.] 


END  OF  ACT  THE  THIRD 


ACT  THE  FOURTH 

The  garden  of  Joseph  of  Arimathsea.  More  than  half 
the  stage  L.  is  filled  by  a  high  cliff,  with  steps  cut  on 
its  face  leading  to  the  summit.  The  cliff  is  overgrown 
with  cypresses,  fruit  trees  in  full  Spring  bloom,  and 
bushes.  One-third  of  the  way  up  there  is  a  projection, 
which  forms  a  platform;  in  the  middle  of  this  platform 
is  a  big  stone  serving  for  a  seat.  At  the  foot  of  the 
cliff  a  semicircular  stone  bench. 

The  city  wall  is  visible  at  the  back  of  the  stage  R. 
In  the  foreground  R.  there  is  a  stony  mound  with 
steps. 
Time:  Night. 


Scene  I 

Joseph  is  discovered  sitting  on  the  platform  of  the  cliff. 
Enter  three  women  bearing  precious  ointments,  and 
silently  pass  on  to  the  summit.  Enter  Rufus  and 
Bartimaeus,  and  take  tip  positions  at  Joseph's  feet, 

Joseph. 
We  all  are  hither  to  the  Sepulchre 
Drawn  as  by  one  united  sense  of  grief 

136 


Act  IV,  Sc.  II]     THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS     137 

And  mourning.  .  .  .  Here  our  tears  together  flow, 
And  seal  our  love  for  Him  that's  gone  before. 

[Enter  Alexander  and  Leah  from  back. 


Scene  II 

Joseph. 

Speak !    Who  goes  there  ?    Methinks  I  did  hear  steps. 
Ah !  it  is  Leah  come,  with  Alexander. 
Are  ye  come  also  here  to  mourn  and  weep 
At  the  dear  grave  of  Him  untimely  dead? 

Alexander. 

We  rose  betimes  to  run,  before  the  dawn, 
Into  the  fields  outside  the  town.  .  ,  . 

Leah. 

To  gather 
Wild  flowers,  sprinkled  fresh  with  morning  dew, 
The  balmy  firstlings  of  the  Spring,  to  spread 
About  the  place  where  He  was  laid.  .  .  . 

Joseph. 

Just  now. 
By  night,  they  will  not  let  you  come  anigh ; 
Wait  till  the  daylight,  soon  it  will  be  dawn. 

Alexander. 
Who,  then,  will  stop  us  going  to  the  tomb? 


138  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS        [Act  IV 

Joseph. 

Ah,  yes,  you  have  not  heard.    A  guard  is  set 
Of  soldiers  over  it ;  a  massy  stone 
Rolled  to  the  entrance  of  the  Sepulchre, 
And  with  the  seals  of  the  Sanhedrin  sealed. 

Leah. 
Why  is  it  sealed  ? 

Alexander. 
What  are  the  soldiers  for  ? 

Joseph. 
Our  Jewish  elders  and  chief  priests,  it  seems, 
Had  fear  lest  Jesus'  body  in  the  night 
By  His  disciples  might  be  stolen  away, 
That  after  they  might  publish  it,  and  say 
He'd  risen  from  the  dead, 

Alexander. 

So,  even  dead, 
He  still  disturbs  these  Scribes  and  Pharisees ! 

Joseph. 
I  ne'er  had  thought  but  two  short  days  agone 
That  here  in  my  lone  garden,  in  the  place, 
This  rocky  cliff,  that  I  had  set  apart 
To  be  my  own  last  resting-place  on  earth, 
The  guiltless  Man  of  Sorrows  should  be  laid! 


Sc.  II]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  139 

Leah. 

[Maybe  I  sin,  but  even  at  the  Feast 

My  thoughts  turn  still  about  His  cruel  death; 

I  cannot  from  my  memory  drive  out 

That  terrible,  that  fatal  Sabbath  Eve; 

Its  very  smallest  details  fill  my  mind, 

Do  all  I  will,  I  must  review  them  still. 

Alexander. 

And  I  the  same ;  it  all  comes  back  again ! 

How  we  came  after  Him  to  Golgotha ; 

My  father  laid  the  cross  down  on  the  ground, 

The  soldiers  took  and  stripped  the  Teacher  stark, 

And  stretched  Him  naked  on  the  cruel  cross. 

My  ears  ring  now,  and  evermore  will  ring, 

With  hammer  strokes  and  driving  in  of  nails! 

The  executioners  drove  hard  and  fast.  .  .  . 

The'  red  blood  gushed  and  spirted  from  the  wounds.  .  .  . 

Leah. 

And  did  you  mark  upon  that  face  divine 

The  look  of  mortal  agony  it  showed? 

Nor  plaints  nor  groans  nor  word  of  harsh  reproach 

In  all  His  cruel  torments  'scaped  those  lips! 

He  lifted  up  His  eyes  to  God  in  Heaven, 

And  prayed  to  the  Almighty,  saying :    "  Father, 

Forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do !  " 

Bartimaeus. 

The  malefactors,  crucified  with  Him, 
Reviled  the  Just  One.    Afterwards  the  one 


I40  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  IV 

Repented  of  his  railing,  and  rebuked 

The  other:  "  Dost  not  thou  fear  God?  "  he  said. 

"  We're  in  the  self-same  condemnation  all, 

Justly  for  us ;  but  He  hath  nothing  done 

Amiss!  "    Then  to  the  Teacher  turned  and  prayed 

The  thief  repentant:  "  Lord,  remember  me; 

Remember  when  Thou  comest  to  Thy  Kindom ! " 

RUFUS. 

And  did  you  note  what  answer  Jesus  made? 

Bartimaeus. 

Aye,  Rufus,  every  word!    Who  could  forget? 
He  answered :  "  Verily,  I  say  to  thee, 
To-day  shalt  be  with  me  in  Paradise !  " 

Joseph. 

For  three  hours  from  high  noon  black  darkness  reigned; 

But  by  the  torches  which  the  soldiers  brought 

I  made  out  near  the  cross  His  mother  Mary; 

And  that  disciple  whom  He  loved  was  there 

Beside  her  in  her  grief  unutterable ; 

And  when  the  Man  of  Sorrows  marked  the  two, 

Gently  He  said  to  her :  "  Behold  thy  son !  " 

Then  turned  to  him,  and  said :  "  Behold  thy  mother ! " 

And  that  disciple,  her  adopted  son, 

With  filial  love  led  Mary  home  again. 

Alexander. 

I  could  not  go  to  Golgotha,  and  so 

I  know  not  how  His  sufferings  did  end. 


Sc.  II]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  141 

RUFUS. 

Ah,  every  word  He  spake  is  deeply  sunk 

And  fixed  for  ever  in  my  memory ! 

I  hear  it  even  now,  the  cry  He  gave, 

Ring  in  my  ears :  "  IMy  God,  my  God,  oh,  why 

Hast  Thou  forsaken  me?  " 

Bartimaeus. 

In  agony 
And  nigh  to  death,  He  faintly  cried:  *'  I  thirst!  " 
A  soldier  took  a  sponge  and  dipped  it  in 
Their  vinegar,  and  put  it  on  a  reed, 
And  gave  it  Him  to  drink,  with  pitying  hand 
Setting  it  to  the  parched  and  death-cold  lips. 

Alexander. 

That  very  hour  in  Pilate's  Palace,  too, 

They  slaked  their  thirst — but  at  a  sumptuous  feast! 

RuFUS. 

And  when  He  had  received  it,  with  loud  voice 
He  cried :  "  'Tis  finished ;  Father,  to  Thy  hands 
I  commend  my  spirit !  "  .  .  . 

Bartimaeus. 

All  His  torments  passed 
He  bowed  His  head  and  yielded  up  His  spirit! 

[/4  silence.  All  dcvoutedly  and  sorrow- 
fully incline  their  heads.  Enter  Simon 
R.  with  a  hunch  of  lilies. 


142  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS        [Act  IV 


Scene   III 

Simon. 

See,  my  good  master,  look  at  these — how  fine ! 
Last  night,  so  warm  and  still,  quite  suddenly 
Our  lilies  all  at  once  came  out  in  bloom, 

\_At  a  sign  from  Joseph,  Alexander  de- 
scends the  steps,  takes  the  lilies  from 
Simon,  and  brings  them  to  Joseph. 

Joseph. 

A  fragrant  bunch,  immaculate  and  pure, 

Of  lilies  that  He  loved,  the  last  night's  blooms. 

Shall  be  the  offering  that  I  will  lay 

Upon  the  Man  of  Sorrows'  Sepulchre. 

The  soldiers  scarce  will  try  to  hinder  me 

From  decking  with  my  flowers  His  resting-place.] 

Leah. 
Well,  Alexander,  since  we  are  refused 
Admission  to  His  grave,  we'll  e'en  go  home. 

Joseph. 

Aye,  go  in  peace  and  leave  me.    Leah,  you 
Might  trust  your  flowers  here  in  Simon's  care; 
We'll  take  them  in  the  morning  to  the  grave. 
And  you,  my  friends,  have  need  of  sleep  and  rest. 


S-.  IV]         THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  143 

Go,  then,  and  leave  me ;  I  stay  here  alone 

To  say  the  prayer  that  comes  before  the  dawn. 

[Exeunt,  leaving  Joseph  alone. 


Scene  IV 

Joseph. 

What  skills  it  that  Thine  eyes  for  ay  are  sealed, 
That  in  the  flesh  Thou  sleepest,  like  the  dead, 
For  in  dark  death  the  Light  of  Life's  revealed. 
Within  our  hearts  its  sunny  rays  to  shed. 
Thy  word  hath  power  our  hearts  to  vivify 
With  strength  and  hope ;  in  them  it  shall  not  die. 
Thy  love,  our  love  for  Thee  our  souls  doth  fill, 
And  where  there's  love  e'en  death  must  fail  to  kill ! 

[Enter  on  the  summit  of  the  cliff  L.  the 
Centurion. 


Scene  V 

Centurion. 
Joseph,  you  here !    I  come  in  search  of  you. 

[Descends  to  Joseph. 

Joseph. 

In  search  of  me?    And  may  one  know  the  cause 
You  seek  me,  my  most  honoured,  breathless  guest? 


144  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  iV 

Centurion  [looking  round]. 
Are  we  alone?    There's  none  can  overhear?, 

Joseph. 
There's  no  one  here ! 

Centurion. 

One  of  my  men,  of  those 
That  mounted  guard  before  the  Sepulchre, 
Came  running,  pale  and  badly  scared,  to  me, 
To  the  Pra^torium,  with  wondrous  news. 
He  said  that  just  at  midnight  there  began 
An  earthquake  all  about  the  Sepulchre, 
And  some  one — shining,  radiant,  woaderful — 
Winged  down  from  Heaven  like  a  falling  star. 
Rolled  back  the  stone  before  the  entrance,  took 
His  seat  upon  it ;  white  as  driven  snow 
The  raiment  of  this  messenger  from  Heaven, 
And  he  himself  like  flash  of  lightning  dazzled! 

Joseph. 
What's  this  you  tell  ? 

Centurion. 

The  soldiers  fell  to  earth, 
Trembling  with  fear;  a  deadl};^  terror  seized 
And  held  them  in  its  cold  embrace.    'Twas  long 
Ere  to  their  proper  senses  they  returned. 
He  who  had  hastened  on  to  me  to  tell 
Their  vision  still  was  trembling  like  a  leaf. 


Sc.    VI]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  145 

I  made  haste  to  the  Sepulchre  myself, 
And  found  the  stone  indeed  was  rolled  away, 
With  all  the  seals  upon  it  still  intact! 
Into  the  tomb  I  went.  .  .  . 

Joseph. 

And  was  it  there, 
The  body  of  our  martyr  done  to  death? 

Centurion. 
Come  with  me,  and  you'll  see  with  your  own  eyes. 

Joseph. 

Then  let  us  go! 

[Hurriedly  mount  the  cliff  and  disappear 
L.  Enter  R.  with  slow  step  Nico- 
DEMUS.    Sits  down  on  the  bench. 


Scene  VI 

NiCODEMUS. 

I  find  no  peace,  no  rest! 
In  disappointment  of  my  groundless  hopes 
I  wander  day  and  night  in  sore  distress; 
[My  soul  is  sick  and  tortured,  all  is  cold 
And  emptiness  within!  ...  I  know  no  sleep.] 
Ah,  vain,  how  vain,  were  all  my  faith  and  hope! 


146  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act   I\' 

Not  He,  not  He,  the  Promised  One,  Messiah — 

But  where  find  strength  to  wait  another  now !    [Sobbing. 

[Enter  Joanna  R.  zvith  an  alabaster  box  in 
her  hands.     The  dawn  glimmers. 


Scene  VII 

JOAN^fA. 

Ah,  Nicodemus!    [Sits  beside  him.]    What  is  left  for  us 

But  to  repine  and  mourn,  to  weep  and  moan! 

With  other  wives  of  GaHlee  I  go 

To  Jesus'  Sepulchre;  we  will  anoint 

His  body  with  sweet  spices,  fragrant  herbs. 

Here's  unguent  made  of  aloes  and  myrrh. 

I  hear  'twas  you  performed  the  last  sad  rites 

For  Him :  at  John's  house  so  they  told  it  us, 

That  you  and  Joseph  took  Him  from  the  cross. 

Nicodemus. 

Yes,  we  indeed  performed  that  saddest  office; 

Against  the  cross  we  set  a  ladder  up, 

'Twas  I  drew  out  the  nail  from  His  right  hand, 

And  helplessly  about  my  neck  there  fell 

The  Master's  arm.     His  head,  bedewed  with  blood, 

Reclined  upon  my  shoulder;  in  my  face 

I  felt  the  pricking  of  His  crown  of  thorns; 

I  seemed  to  sense  miraculously  warm 

The  last  farewell  embrace  that  Jesus  gave. 


Sc.  VII]  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  147 

And  now,  without  surcease,  these  moments  haunt 
My  memory ;  I  think  of  naught  beside, 
And  helplessly  the  tears  well  in  my  eyes. 

Joanna. 
I,  too,  must  ever  weep  to  think  upon 
These  deeds.  .  .  . 

[Behind  the  scenes  is  heard  in  the  dis- 
tance a  shepherd's  pipe. 

But  hark !  that  was  a  shepherd's  pipe. 
He  drives  the  city  cattle  to  the  fields. 
Ah,  how  I  love  those  strains !    They  take  me  back 
To  those  unclouded  days  of  happiness 
When  I  was  little.    Always  comes  to  mind 
Whene'er  I  hear  their  pipe  a  certain  night 
In  my  old  home.    I  was  a  baby  then, 
But  of  that  night  how  often  have  I  heard 
Our  shepherds  tell  their  simple,  artless  tale! 
As  they  were  watching  by  their  flocks  by  night 
Appeared  an  angel,  and  before  them  stood. 
[The  glory  of  the  Lord  shone  round  about, 
And  they  were  sore  afraid.    The  angel  said, 
To  reassure  and  comfort  them :  "  Fear  not ! 
Behold  I  bring  you  tidings  of  great  joy, 
To  you  and  to  all  peoples  of  the  earth! 
For  unto  you  is  born  this  day  a  Saviour! 
And  this  shall  be  your  token:  In  a  cave 
You'll  find  a  babe  wrapped  round  in  swaddling  clothes 
Laid  in  a  manger."    Suddenly  with  him 


148  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  [Act   IV 

There  was  a  multitude  of  angels,  saying: 

"  Glory  to  God  in  the  Highest,  and  on  earth 

Peace  and  goodwill  towards  men !  "   Their  hymn  of  praise 

Ended,  and  stillness  fell;  the  heavenly  light 

Was  gone,  the  angel  winged  away  to  God.] 

And,  as  the  angel  said,  they  went  and  found 

The  manger,  and  within  it,  all  wrapped  round 

In  swaddling  clothes,  the  infant  Jesus,  saw 

His  mother  Mary,  radiant  with  joy. 

NiCODEMUS. 

Aye.  aye,  the  world  will  ne'er  forget  that  night 
In  Nazareth! 

Joanna. 
No,  Bethlehem! 

NiCODEMUS  Ispringing  up]. 

What's  that? 
What  say  you?    Bethlehem? 

Joanna. 

'Tis  true! 


NiCODEMUS. 

'Twas  Nazareth  where  He  was  born! 

Joanna. 

Indeed!  Csesar  Augustus  in  those  days 
Sent  a  decree  that  all  the  world  be  taxed; 


But  then, 


No,  no, 


Sc.  VIII]     THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  149 

Each  went  to  his  own  town  to  be  enrolled, 

And  so  from  Nazareth  in  Galilee 

Went  Joseph,  Mary's  husband,  to  Judaea, 

To  Bethlehem,  King  David's  town,  because 

Joseph  was  of  the  house  and  lineage 

Of  David. 

NiCODEMUS. 

Ah,  Joanna,  if  you  knew 
How  bitter  is  the  grief  your  words  have  brought 
Too  late  upon  my  soul!    In  Bethlehem 
Was  born — of  David's  house  and  lineage — 
These  were  the  two  and  only  tokens  lacking 
For  right  fulfilment  of  the  prophecies; 
And  lo,  in  Jesus  all  the  proofs  are  found! 
But  we  instead  of  joying  in  His  triumph 
Are  doomed  to  weep  upon  His  sepulchre! 

Joanna. 

But  who  will  roll  the  stone  away  for  us? 
You,  Nicodemus? 

[Enter  L.  on  the  summit  of  the  cliff  and 
descend  Joseph  and  the  Centurion. 
It  grows  light;  a  rosy  sky. 


Scene  VIII 

Joseph. 
He's  no  longer  there! 


I50  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  IV 

Joanna. 
You  cannot  mean  .... 

NiCODEMUS. 

Then,  Joseph,  where  is  He? 

Centurion. 

We  searched  the  place  all  round  and  thoroughly, 
But  could  not  find  the  body. 

Joseph. 

All  we  saw 
Was  but  the  linen  grave-clothes  lying  there, 
And  in  a  place  apart,  not  with  the  cloths. 
But  wrapped  together  by  itself,  there  lay 
The  napkin  that  was  bound  about  His  head 
Last  night  by  me  and  Nicodemus. 

Joanna. 

Come  to 
The  Sepulchre! 

Nicodemus. 

I  go  with  you,  Joanna. 
[Joanna  and  Nicodemus  hurriedly  mount 
the  cliff  and  disappear  L. 

Scene  IX 

Centurion. 

I  was  a  witness  of  His  sufferings 

When  on  the  cross  His  life  was  ebbing  out; 


Sc.  X]         THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  151 

His  death  so  moved  me,  to  my  inmost  soul, 
That  I  beheved,  faith  held  me,  and  I  knew 
That  truly  this  Man  was  the  Son  of  God! 

[Enter  R.  Simon,  with  Leah's  flowers, 
RuFUS  and  Bartimaeus.  All  agitated. 


Scene  X 

Simon  [to  Joseph]. 

My  master,  I  am  come  with  weighty  news ; 
You  have  not  heard?    The  stone  is  rolled  away, 
The  body  taken.  .  .  . 

Joseph. 

Yes,  I  know  it,  Simon, 
And  am  amazed,  like  you. 

Bartimaeus. 

But  who  hath  done  it? 

Joseph. 
Nay,  that  I  know  not. 

Centurion, 

His  disciples,  perhaps. 
At  dead  of  night,  the  while  my  rascals  slept, 
Have  stolen  Him  away. 


152  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS        [Act  IV 

Joseph. 

Why  should  they,  though? 

Simon. 

Nay,  His  disciples  could  not  do  this  thing! 
[It  will  be  morning  soon,  the  sun  comes  up; 
The  Sabbath  now  is  over ;  we  must  go 
And  set  about  our  workday  garden  toil. 

Joseph. 
'Tis  little  you  have  slept,  methinks,  this  night? 

Simon. 
Aye,  master,  we  have  never  laid  us  down ; 
Scarce  had  we  been  dismissed  when  at  the  gate 
Behind  the  garden  wall  we  heard  some  steps. 
And  looking  through  the  wicket  in  the  dark — ] 
For  dawn  had  not  begun  to  pale  the  sky — 
I  made  out  John,  the  fisherman,  you  know, 
Of  Galilee.  ,  .  . 

Bartimaeus. 

[The  best  beloved  one 
Of  all  the  Twelve.  .  .  . 

RUFUS. 

He  lives  quite  near  to  us 
Beside  the  city  gate,  just  opposite 
Our  garden  wicket  on  the  other  side, 
Across  the  street.  .  .  .] 


Sc.  XI]        THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  153 

Simon. 

He'd  just  come  from  the  tomb 
And  much  was  moved.  .  .  .  From  him  it  was  we  learned 
The  stone  was  rolled  away,  the  Sepulchre 
Laid  open,  Jesus'  body  disappeared.  .  ,  . 

RUFUS. 

So  then  we  ran  to  see  it  for  ourselves, 
And  found  Him  not ! 

Simon. 

And  here  I  have  the  flowers, 
The  wild  flowers  Leah  left.    What  shall  I  do 
With  Leah's  flowers? 

Joseph. 

Take  them  to  the  tomb, 
Good  Simon,  there  you'll  find  my  lilies,  too. 

[Simon  mounts  to  the  swnmit  of  the  cliff 
and  disappears  L.     Nicodemus  returns. 


Scene  XI 

Joseph. 
Ah,  come,  my  good  old  friend,  rejoice  with  me! 
The  Master's  words  are  being  all  fulfilled : 
Already  is  one  true  believer  found 
Of  those  Our  Heavenly  Father  loves  to  meet. 


154  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  IV 

Remember  how  the  Teacher  prophesied 
When  He  ascended  into  Heaven  He 
Would  drjiw  all  men  unto  Him :  lo,  and  now 
A  heathen  hath  confessed  the  Son  of  God, 
An  unbeliever  holds  the  faith.     In  truth 
There  shall  be  but  one  Shepherd  and  one  flock ! 

Centurion. 
[When  all  was  over,  and  He  died,  my  men. 
There  were  but  four  of  them,  His  raiment  took, 
Dividing  it  among  them.     But  there  was 
His  cloak,  in  one  piece  woven  without  seam. 
And  they  were  loath  to  rend  it,  so  they  went 
To  casting  lots  for  it,  and  thus  it  fell 
To  that  one  who  came  running  to  report 
The  vision  seen  beside  the  Sepulchre, 
And  from  my  man  I  bought  the  martyr's  cloak. 

NicoDEMUS  \_with  animation]. 
Joseph,  you  mind  now  in  that  psalm  'tis  said, 
King  David's  psalm :  "  My  raiment  parted  they 
Among  themselves  and  for  my  outer  cloak 
They  did  cast  lots.  .  .  . 

Joseph. 

Remember?    Aye,  indeed! 
Another  prophecy  has  been  fulfilled. 
This  cloak  you  bought  was  woven,  I  have  heard, 
Joanna  told  me,  by  His  mother's  hands 
For  her  beloved  son. 


Sc.  XI]         THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  155 

NiCODEMUS. 

Joanna  now 
To  Mary  has  just  hastened,  to  the  house 
Of  John  the  fisherman,  the  best  beloved. 

Joseph  \_to  Nicodemus]. 

And  have  you  heard,  my  friend,  what  happened  at 
The  moment  when  He  yielded  up  His  spirit? 
The  Temple  walls  were  rent  asunder,  and 
The  veil  was  rent  in  twain  from  top  to  bottom, 
And  to  the  eyes  of  Levites,  priests,  laid  bare 
The  Sanctuary !    The  Ark  of  Covenant, 
Which  under  penalty  of  death  they  dare 
Not  set  unhallowed  eyes  on,  even  they, 
Was  then  revealed  to  their  astounded  gaze! 

Nicodemus. 

Aye,  a  phenomenon  of  note !    It  can 
But  be  received  as  token  of  the  Truth, 
That  ancient  forms  are  superseded  now, 
That  now  a  newer  Covenant  is  given, 
That  Jesus  sent  from  Heaven  down  to  earth 
Hath  brought  that  Covenant  to  us  from  God.] 
Oh,  Jesus,  stone  the  builders  did  reject, 
Head  of  the  corner  hath  that  stone  become, 
A  stone,  in  truth,  of  stumbling  and  ofifence ! 
Oh,  Jesus !    I  would  see  in  Him  the  One 
Messiah  promised  us :  a  mighty  King : 
I  waited  for  His  victories  o'er  foes, 


156  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS        [Act  IV 

For  glories  and  for  triumphs  waited  I  .  .  .  . 

And  now  ?    My  King  is  crowned  with  crown  of  thorns, 

His  throne  a  felon's  cross  bedewed  with  blood, 

His  victory  the  lethargy  or  death, 

His  triumph,  glory,  pomp — a  sepulchre ! 

\_Enter  R.  Joanna  and  three  women  hearing 
ointments,  running.  All  in  white  gar- 
ments and  radiant  with  joy. 


Scene  XII 

Joanna  and  the  Three  Women  [in  transports  of  joy']. 
He  lives ! 

[A  general  stir.     The  first  rays  of  the  rising 
sun  light  up  the  scene.    Sky  all  rosy. 

Joseph. 
Great  God! 

Centurion,  Rufus,  Bartimaeus. 
He  lives? 

NiCODEMUS. 

These  women  rave! 
How  can  it  be? 

Joseph. 
My  true  presentiment ! 

Joanna. 
He  is  arisen ! 


Be.   XII]        THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  157 

Centurion. 
Do  I  dream? 

NiCODEMUS. 

And  whence 
Have  you  this  news? 

RuFus,  Bartimaeus. 

Who  was  it  told  you  this? 

Joanna. 

His  mother  sent  me,  and  I  come  to  you: 

When  yestereve  the  sun  went  down  behind 

The  hills  came  Mary  from  the  Sepulchre 

To  John's  house  where  she  has  her  home,  and  there 

In  her  own  chamber  in  the  silent  night 

She  sate  and  mourned,  the  mother  for  her  Son: 

And  all  at  once  a  wondrous  shining  light 

Lit  up  the  room  and  Mary  looked  and  saw 

Her  Son  before  her  standing,   and  she  thought 

It  was  a  dream  or  vision  marvellous ; 

But  there  He  stood  before  her  in  the  flesh, 

Only  more  radiant,  brighter  than  in  life, 

And  from  Him  floated  fragrant  on  the  air 

A  scent  of  myrrh  and  aloes.    With  joy 

And  transport  Mary  stretched  out  her  arms 

To  Him,  as  half  afraid  to  trust  her  eyes, 

And  touched  the  hair,  the  shoulders,  countenance 

Of  Him,  her  Son,  her  Son  so  loved  and  lost. 

The  dear  familiar  voice  caressed  her  ear: 

"  Why  weepest  thou,  why  weepest  thou  for  Me  ? 


158  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS       [Act  IV 

Arisen  from  the  grave  and  glorified 

Am  I :  and  so  will  raise  and  glorify 

Thee  too,  and  every  one  who  in  their  hearts 

Henceforth  with  faith  and  love  shall  honour  thee!" 

He  vanished  with  those  words  and  was  no  more. 

[Joseph  and  Joanna  mount  to  the  summit 
of  the  cliff.     Exit  Joanna. 

NicoDEMus  {^kneeling  down"]. 
My  God,  forgive!  the  cunning  tempter,  Doubt, 
Had  sapped  my  faith — forgive  my  unbelief! 
Thou,  the  All-knowing,  Builder  of  my  soul. 
Hast  seen  how  oft,  as  on  the  aeons  roll, 
The  serpent-pride  of  brain  to  its  own  grief 
Torments  and  stings,  until  through  every  part 
Its  subtle  venom  steals  and  numbs  the  heart. 
But  now,  oh  God,  that  in  the  faith  I  live. 
My  faltering  faith  aforetime.  Lord,  forgive! 
Not  for  myself  alone  I  seek  Thy  grace, 
But  for  all  them  that  through  the  aeons  face 
Such  pain  as  I,  nor  yielding  to  the  blow 
Take  up  life's  load  and  steadfast  onward  go! 

Bartimaeus. 
As  bridegroom  from  the  bridal  couch  doth  rise. 
So  rose  He  from  the  tomb.     From  joyful  skies 
The  bright  sun  shines:  our  God  he  glorifies! 

[On  the  summit  of  the  cliff  appear  B. 
Simon,  Alexander  and  Leah,  each 
'  hearing  a  lily  in  the  hand. 


Sc.  XIII]       THE    KING    OF    THE    JEWS  159 

Scene  XIII 

Simon,  Alexander,  Leah. 
Christ  is  arisen! 

Omnes. 
Verily  He's  risen! 

Leah. 

The  wives  of  Galilee,  and  Magdalene 

Have  brought  us  wondrous  news,  for  they  have  seen 

Beneath  the  cedars  while  the  dawn  was  pale 

Our  Lord  Himself  in  yonder  silent  vale. 

[Behind  the  hill  rises  the  subdued  singing 
of  a  psalm — the  last  twenty  lines  of 
which  are  declaimed  by  Joseph — it  is 
heard  moving  gradually  towards  the  R. 


Scene  XIV 

[NicoDEMUS,  Simon,  Rufus,  Bartimaeus  and  the  Cen- 
turion mount  to  the  summit  of  the  cliff  and  dis- 
appear L. 

Alexander. 

A  multitude  of  such  as  hearkened 
The  word  of  God  and  followed  after  Christ, 
Came  to  the  Sepulchre  and  found  it  spread 
With  fragrant  lilies  dropped  from  Paradise: 


i6o  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS        [Act  IV 

With  these  bright  blooms  was  strewn  His  winding-sheet, 
They  took  a  lily  each  with  reverent  hand 
And  go  now  in  procession  through  the  street 
Singing  the  psalmist's  song,  Christ's  Chosen  band! 

[Exeunt  Simon,  Alexander  and  Leah  L. 

Joseph  [^alone  on  the  summit  of  the  cliff']. 
We  thank  Thee,  Lord,  for  this  Thy  resurrection; 
The  night  is  passed  and  newly  dawns  the  day ; 
Oh  may  it  give  our  old  world  wise  direction 
And  teach  mankind  to  live  by  love  alway. 

Oh  praise  the  Lord  from  Heaven's  height, 
And  sing  His  praise  unceasing; 

Jlis  world  of  marvels  ay  is  bright 
His  glory  still  increasing. 

Oh  praise  Him,  Heavenly  host  above, 

And  men  their  voices  borrow; 
The  graves  are  oped,  the  Light  of  Love 

Hath  chased  our  gloom  of  sorrow. 

Oh  praise  the  Lord  from  Heaven's  height, 

Each  mountain,  hill  and  river; 
Hosanna,  glorify  the  Light, 

The  grave  is  gone  for  ever. 

Oh  praise  the  Lord,  ye  distant  seas, 
And  praise  Him,  boundless  ocean; 

May  all  our  sorrows  find  surcease, 
Our  plaints  turn  to  devotion. 


Sc.  XIV]       THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS  i6i 

Oh  praise  the  Lord  from  Heaven's  height, 
From  Him  shall  man  ne'er  sever, 

For  He  hath  risen,  Christ  our  Light, 
And  conquered  death  for  ever! 

l^Tlie  singing  is  heard  louder  and  louder, 
continuing  till  the  fall  of  the  curtain. 

[the  curtain  falls  as  slowly  as  possible.] 


THE  ENO. 


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